Green Brigade vs. Police Scotland: A Major Fallout from the Old Firm Derby
The Green Brigade, one of Celtic’s most vocal and passionate supporter groups, has released an explosive statement condemning what they describe as a “premeditated attack” on football fans by Police Scotland during Sunday’s Old Firm derby against Rangers at Celtic Park. The incident saw around 90 Celtic supporters denied entry to the match, with police citing their refusal to comply with searches. The Green Brigade, however, claims the police operation was unlawful, excessive, and part of a wider trend of repression against football supporters in Scotland.
The fallout from this event has sparked widespread debate about policing at football matches, the treatment of supporter groups, and the need for better fan engagement in Scottish football. This detailed report explores the events, the responses from both sides, and the broader implications for football supporters in Scotland.
The Incident Outside Celtic Park: What Happened?
Pre-Match Gathering and Kettling of Fans
The Green Brigade outlined their version of events in a strongly worded statement. According to the group, fans gathered at the Celtic Social Club in the morning, which is a common pre-match ritual before home games. They noted a significant police presence but stated that no officer engaged with them regarding any concerns or movement restrictions.
At around 10:45 AM, the group began their march toward Celtic Park. However, they were soon stopped by police, and a group of approximately 200 supporters was kettled—a controversial police tactic that involves confining a large group of people in a restricted area to prevent movement.
Initially, fans were told that they were being held until all away supporters had entered the stadium, a tactic police often use to control movement during high-risk fixtures. However, after about an hour, officers changed their reasoning, stating that the group was now being detained under Section 60 of the Public Order Act.
Police Justification: “Concealing Identity”
According to the Green Brigade, police claimed that their detention was due to fans “concealing their identity”. The group strongly disputes this, arguing that most people were not wearing masks. They claim that when this was pointed out, police shifted their focus to fans wearing hats, hoods, and sunglasses.
In response, some supporters offered to remove these items to comply with the police request. However, they say this offer was not accepted, and the group remained kettled.
The Conditions in the Kettle: Five Hours Without Food, Water, or Toilets
What followed was a lengthy period of detention. Fans claim they were held in the kettle for nearly five hours, with no access to food, water, or toilet facilities.
The Green Brigade describes this treatment as inhumane and disproportionate, especially given that this was a pre-emptive operation where no crime had been committed at the time. They argue that this was not about public safety, but rather a deliberate attempt to target and suppress certain groups of supporters.
Police Demands: Physical Restraint and Full Body Searches
According to the Green Brigade, police gave fans two options for leaving the kettle:
- Submit to police detention, which involved being physically restrained by two officers by the arms and escorted into a secondary police cordon.
- Undergo a full body search, including what the group described as a refusal to privacy for female fans.
The group argues that these demands were “draconian and unnecessary”, leading many fans to refuse to comply. This resulted in them missing the entire match despite having valid tickets.
The Aftermath: No Arrests, But Fans Reported to Procurator Fiscal
Despite the heavy-handed police operation, the Green Brigade points out that no arrests were made—a detail they believe undermines any claim that they posed a real threat.
However, after the match, Police Scotland released a statement stating that all 90 detained fans had been reported to the Procurator Fiscal, Scotland’s public prosecution service. The Green Brigade expressed outrage at this, claiming that supporters were not informed of this at the time and only learned about it through the media.
The Green Brigade’s Response: Accusations of Repression
“A Coordinated Effort to Silence Supporters”
The Green Brigade believes that this was not an isolated incident, but rather part of a broader campaign to suppress certain football supporters.
They argue that police, football clubs, and governing bodies such as the SPFL and SFA are working together to control the game and eliminate supporter groups that challenge authority.
Ties to Recent Celtic PLC Sanctions
The Green Brigade suggests that it is no coincidence that this police action came just days after Celtic PLC imposed sanctions against some of their members.
They also criticized Celtic’s safety and security department, claiming that it is staffed by former police officers, which they believe creates an environment where supporters are seen as a problem rather than a part of the club.
Call for Change: A Formal Fan Engagement Framework
In light of the incident, the Green Brigade is calling for a full review of fan engagement policies in Scottish football.
They believe that supporters should have a formal voice at both club level and national level, ensuring that fan concerns are properly addressed rather than ignored or repressed.
Their proposed solution includes:
A centralized framework that regulates fan engagement between clubs, governing bodies, and supporter groups.
A formal complaints system for incidents like this, ensuring that fans have legal avenues to challenge police treatment.
Greater transparency from clubs regarding their involvement in police operations against supporters.
Comparisons to the “Gallowgate Kettle” of 2012
The Green Brigade also highlighted the 12-year anniversary of the infamous “Gallowgate kettle”, where similar police tactics were used against Celtic fans in 2012. That incident sparked mass protests and led to the “Fans Against Criminalisation” movement.
They argue that little has changed since then and that history is repeating itself.
Celtic’s Stance: Waiting for Michael Nicholson’s Response
The Green Brigade also praised Celtic’s Supporter Liaison Officer, John Paul Taylor, for his efforts to mediate and support fans during the incident.
However, they are now demanding answers from Celtic CEO Michael Nicholson, specifically:
What prior knowledge did Celtic have of this police operation?
Does the club condone the treatment of supporters?
What actions will Celtic take to support their fans in the aftermath?
Police Scotland’s Justification and Backlash
Police Scotland has defended its actions, stating that the searches were “undertaken proportionately” and were in line with the special policing measures put in place for Old Firm matches.
However, their justification has been met with strong criticism from both Celtic fans and civil rights groups, who argue that such measures infringe upon basic freedoms and civil liberties.
What’s Next? The Green Brigade’s Fight for Justice
With legal action being actively considered, and wider discussions about policing in Scottish football now being reignited, this issue is far from over.
The Green Brigade is now urging all Scottish football supporters—not just Celtic fans—to stand against what they see as the increasing criminalisation of supporters.
With tensions running high and neither side backing down, this incident could have long-term implications for how football matches are policed in Scotland.