Celtic Chief Nicholson rejects the Green Brigade, raising tensions

The Green Brigade claims that their representatives were denied access to a prearranged meeting with Celtic CEO Michael Nicholson. According to the group’s most recent North Curve Celtic email, they were scheduled to meet with Nicholson on October 3 to discuss the development of The Celtic End, among other important problems.

However, the group claims that when they got at Celtic Park, they were turned away because one representative was “not to Michael’s liking”. The Green Brigade cites the individual’s “relationship with Palestine” as the cause for this decision, calling it a “cynical and uncomfortable” development.

Soccer Football – Champions League – Borussia Dortmund v Celtic – Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany – October 1, 2024 Fans inside the stadium holds flares as they display a message referencing Palestine amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas REUTERS/Leon Kuegeler

This follows prior tensions between the club and the group over a pro-Palestine show at a match, which Celtic management thought “unacceptable”. The club had earlier sent a letter to the Green Brigade criticizing the display and citing occurrences at away games that resulted in members of the group being banned for a spell. It’s worth noting that Celtic claimed the ban was not imposed because of the presence of Palestinian flags.

While the previous ban has subsequently been revoked, this recent event has sparked additional criticism from the Green Brigade, who have yet to get a formal explanation from the club regarding the postponed meeting. The group expressed their anger in a statement, saying, “We remain eager to discuss the idea with the club, to have the opportunity to explore all and any other options, and, above all, to conduct a full and proper fan consultation.” They also stated that, despite what they call the club’s “intransigence,” they will continue to advocate for the development of The Celtic End wherever possible.

The Green Brigade elaborated on the subject, saying: “The Green Brigade had a meeting set with Michael Nicholson on 03/10/24 to discuss The Celtic End and other lingering issues from last season. Unfortunately, the GB representatives were turned away from Celtic Park because one of them did not meet Michael’s standards. The individual in question has a long history with the club; nonetheless, it appears that their link with Palestine is the source of the current difficulty. This is a cynical and unsettling development that the UK is seeking an official reaction to.”

As things stand, the situation remains unsolved, with the Green Brigade still waiting for a response from Celtic on the reasons for the decision and the possibility of future conversations. The Celtic End concept has been proposed by the Green Brigade and other groups to boost the atmosphere at Celtic matches. Having something comparable to Dortmund’s yellow wall. However, the logistics and practicality of this happening continue to be hotly debated.