Tensions Rise as Green Brigade Turned Away by Celtic Chief Nicholson

The Green Brigade have claimed that their representatives were denied entry to a scheduled meeting with Celtic CEO Michael Nicholson. According to the group’s latest North Curve Celtic newsletter, they were due to meet with Nicholson on October 3 to discuss the creation of The Celtic End as well as other pressing matters.

However, the group state that when they arrived at Celtic Park, they were turned away due to one representative being “not to Michael’s liking”. The reason for this, according to the Green Brigade, stems from the individual’s “relationship with Palestine”, calling the decision a “cynical and uncomfortable” development.

This comes in the wake of previous tension between the club and the group over a pro-Palestine display at a match, which Celtic officials had deemed “unacceptable”. The club had previously issued a letter to the Green Brigade criticising the display and referencing incidents at away matches that led to members of the group being banned for a time. It’s important to note that Celtic stated the ban was not imposed due to the presence of Palestinian flags.

While the earlier banning order has since been lifted, this latest incident has drawn further criticism from the Green Brigade, who have yet to receive a formal response from the club regarding the cancelled meeting.

In a statement released by the group, they expressed their frustration: “We remain eager to discuss the idea with the club, to have the opportunity to explore all and any other options and above all conduct a full and proper fan consultation.” They added that despite what they describe as the club’s “intransigence”, they will continue to push for the development of The Celtic End wherever possible.

Detailing the situation further, the Green Brigade explained: “The Green Brigade had a meeting scheduled with Michael Nicholson on 03/10/24 with a view to discussing The Celtic End and other matters outstanding from last season. Disappointingly, the GB reps were turned away from Celtic Park as one person was not to Michael’s liking. The person in question has a longstanding relationship with the club, however, it is their relationship with Palestine which seems to be the issue now. This is a cynical and uncomfortable development which the GB is awaiting a formal response on.”

As things stand, the situation remains unresolved, with the Green Brigade still awaiting a response from Celtic regarding the reasons behind the decision and the potential for future discussions.

The Celtic End idea has been floated by the Green Brigade and other groups to improve the atmosphere at Celtic Games. Having an equivalent to Dortmund’s yellow wall. However, the logistics and practicality of this happening are still the source of much debate.