Celtic Supporters Thread (contains GB chat)

It depends how it's done..

But the lack of communication and transparency has been a major issue for years.. it gets put on the back-burner or forgotten about at times as we've been so successful domestically..

We'd be a much better entity if there was more unity across the club.. that's what most of us want..

GB need to be smarter but the board need to engage much better..

 

I really don't think it's about fault though, mate. The question here is why they have been banned this time. What do we actually know?

We know that the board have said that the GB and the Bhoys were involved in some unsafe incidents at Motherwell. We also know that the board haven't deemed it necessary to show that it was the GB and/or the Bhoys who were behind these incidents or even, for the more serious incidents, that they happened at all. We know that the GB claim there has been no communication from the club and that the board haven't bothered to confirm or deny this. We know that there has been no transparency about the process followed to reach this decision, it just appears to have been decreed ex-cathedra.
As far as I can see, there's not much the GB and the Bhoys can do about this except ask for clarification, which they say they have done with no reply.

Regardless of whose fault it is, the board should be more open about this. For example:

If it really is true that the groups were involved in behaviour that was a risk to people's safety, the board could release the evidence they used to reach the conclusion that the groups were involved and the relevant safety assessment. I for one wouldn't argue against a temporary ban for this if they actually proved it and it really was genuinely unsafe.

If it's really because they think that banner could be construed as support for a terror attack and are afraid of a repeat, then ask the group for clarification and to give assurances that there won't be any pro-Hamas banners. If the group refused to do that, I would not argue against a temporary ban for that either.

If, as a lot of us suspect, it's because they don't want any show of support for the Palestinians or protest against what Israel are currently doing (I might take a guess that it's more the latter that scares them) and are scared that it would cost the club money, then I for one would not consider this a legitimate reason for a ban; but if they had the guts to be upfront about it, we'd at least find out exactly who is more in tune with the Celtic support on this.

Irrespective of what the real reason is, there really needs to be more transparency from the board. This is a constant theme whenever there is a disagreement between the board and these groups. I know it's a PLC; but they'd do well to remember that we play in Scotland with all that entails yet sell a huge number of ST's and so the revenue from the fans is not dwarfed by commercial revenue and TV money like it is in the EPL.

 

You beat me to this point by maybe a few seconds.

 

Let's be honest, if the GB or the Bhoys are asked/told to conform to anything that 'limits their freedoms', they are goanny tell the board to GTF.

There can only be unity when the board back down and let the groups dictate what they are allowed to do, is the way I see it. Which is probably why it went * up the first time the club attempted to have open dialogue.

 

Aye, still can't imagine PL & Co encouraging regular dialogue with the GB over the years..

The board want rid of them and have done for years..

The GB though, have to be more savvy as the risk losing their platform , that has achieved so much..

 

Of course the GB had engagement with the board and PL, we didn't get the standing section and their group in the middle of it by accident, it took years of communication and planning. If the board and PL really wanted rid of them it would have happened years ago, overnight, every club in the world has the power to revoke a ticket.

 

Aye, it's a fair point about the standing section, there would have definitely been communication to be housed there..

The board definitely don't like how the GB have evolved though and influence they can generate.

It is easier said than done to get rid , without a backlash.. I think we may see a real attempt this time..

 

Feel like you're side stepping the point am making here. Am saying the board DID have open dialogue with the GB, but the GB are not exactly open to compromise.

Also, the board could get rid of them if they really wanted, and they would if they were as bad as people seem to think. Reality is they know the GB can be a positive force for the team so they're more inclined to let things slide as much as they can.

But the groups will always push their luck, and the club will always be forced to step in eventually. It's just part and parcel I'm afraid, so jumping on the 'sack the board' bandwagon is infinite imo.

 

Aye, like I say I would need to see some sort of evidence there was an open dialogue with the GB, aside from the standing room section being implemented.. and if there was who * it etc.. maybe only the parties involved know that for sure..

And more importantly what's the situation now, the GB and other supporters have reached out to the club recently and have been ignored until the statement earlier..

I'm not saying they are easy to manage and they * it with that banner but to ban them from away games because of the reasons they gave for Feyenoord and Motherwell.. is nonsense..happens at almost every away game..

At least have the balls to say why they are banning them instead of trying to build momentum with bullshit before banning them anyway for Wednesday..

 

I like GB, the atmosphere they create and tifos are superb but Celtic will always come first and only harming the club with flares and protests now affecting players like wee abada...I agree with GB about Palestine and although will make headlines it will only harm club so needs to stop...GB should do what they are best at and that's creating best atmosphere in europe

 

Pyro, fines, weans acting big men, constant grief.

* all to do with anything more than that.

Sad it’s got to this stage but it has. Undoubtedly the pishly written banner 2 wks ago didn’t help.

club told that if it keeps on happening a stand is getting shut down for a game. No choice but to act.

That’s what has happened.

 

While your on here spouting pish, there is people doing their utmost to help those affected by the war

Think before you speak.

We’ve been here before and stood strong in our support for the oppressed.

https://amp.theguardian.com/footbal...-for-palestinian-charities-after-flag-protest

 

That I disagree with, generally they’ve been amazing having in that corner and really needed at Parkhead the times they haven’t been there and before they were all together in that section and leading the more boisterous fans, constantly. Home and away.

They are occasionally brilliant in tifos and protests, occasionally brilliant with holding the club to task in a good way.

Then sometimes, they’re * idiots. And that banner is one of those times, they’ve been awfully weaselly about the full situation, the statement they realised later that week even more so than the banner.

They’ve been very careful not to to praise or more importantly condemn Hamas and there ethos, which is as far away from what they view as Celtic minded or anti-Fascist as you can get.

They’ve ironically ended up with the same opinion as Israel, Hamas and the very young population of Gaza being one and the same. It feels intentional that because they aren’t weans mate, they are occasionally very clever and stupid at other times as well but they aren’t weans who aren’t clued up in the situation. * ones I’ve met are that politically clued up on what would back their view up its obsessive. They aren’t nuanced though, and thats how you end up thinking that banner and statement are justified.

 

I don’t think they’re just standing for the oppressed though, they’re also standing for Hamas indirectly with how they’ve went about they’re politicing. And they also oppress those in Gaza, in a different way.

Their leaders sitting in mansions in Iran that sanctioned an attack on Israel, that could swing international opinion on those who are oppressed… they knew what the reply from Israel would be. They knew they couldn’t do * all about it.

But they don’t give a * about those that need to bare the consequences. They are a despicable organisation, with extreme, horrible dehumanising anti-Semitism, not Zionism, they’re weirdly aping Israel’s rhetoric in a twisted way. They have a lot of publicity everything they do, they had an opportunity to draw a line and point out that these people aren’t the extremists that are being propoganda’d by Israels PR machine as one and the same as Hamas. Condemn Hamas and there views strongly, condemn Israel stronger then end with a strong, poignant message and appeal to help those that need it most there.

They’ve * me the * off and I really like them and think they get a lot of * flung at them, a lot of the time thats * all to do with them either, they get the blame if a random fan does anything really. This time though, they’ve got it * wrong with how they’ve tried to go about it. I’m hoping they’ve just not realised how it’s came across, but I don’t think they’re that daft. I give them more credit than that.

 

Funny thing, last time I was in the Superstore Celtic were selling portraits of a Tifo of theres that had Pyro in it

No to Pyro until it comes to selling a Celtic portrait for £90 that looks cool as *.

for the occasional fines they get, the club sells enough merch off the back of there efforts and slogans to cover it probably. COYBIG tshirts and all

 

The GB are complaining board not communicating/listening but when do they listen to majority of fans who are fed up with the way they behave now? Also the GB didn't have any balls and haven't given any reason why they embarrassed us by running way from the manky mob at Hampden?

 

What when the Huns were trying to fight with fans? Wasn’t the GB that, was fans and a few * that like a fight, weird thing to me the full Casual * that would probably be labelled as that some of the bhoys there but not as… Casually as the the ones back in the day I don’t even know what they call themselves these days.

But kinda proves my statement above that GB get blamed for some ridiculous *.


I’d rather our fans don’t do that *, for me it’s * getting rid of insecurity and anger through a scrap, do it away from cameras or publicity if you want but not infront of cameras at a cup final, that can hurt the club through needless *. They came off worse through that footage as the aggressors, most people look at that and go what a bunch of mindless dickheads. And thats a big part of the stereotype Rangers fan, aggressive angry mindless * lashing out with bigotry and fists. Occasionally to other people, mostly on public bench memorials.

But if it was the GB btw, and they leathered them, Imagine the outcry. Just imagine, medias been waiting a long time to get them on something bigger than political opinion and pyro. Pyro they tried so hard to label them as monsters against asthmatic Celtic fans and arsonists. If they ever catch them actually doing something proper wrong, like bouncing over a Huns head. That’s game over.

Not surprised about communication btw, that’s a Lawwell throwback. His ego and arrogance means he won’t come to the table with what he views as folk beneath him, who are like a wee wasp in his side, continuing to defy his attempts to guide them out the door.

Edit: thats actually quite worrying because I believe the protests under Nicholson Anges first season when we went to hire a guy who absolutely treated our fans as criminals, harassed and hounded. A guy fans spent years fighting against both in the courts and protests in the stand. The club abandoned it and communicated with them about it, despite it apparently being the * walking away from negotiations because of the hassle itd be on his own.

But the channels were open for communication. It wasn’t under Lawwell, and if its back to that with him being more present than background again. I don’t like that, I appreciate what he can bring but it shouldn’t be his show at all anymore

 

There is over 1700 pages on this thread and before October 2023 there isn’t a single mention of GB supporting Hamas. Have they all of a sudden shifted their Ethos ? I doubt it.

If your referring to the victory to the resistance flag I believe it had more meaning to it than a call of support to Hamas.
General mass strikes and civil disobedience, challenging British imperialism and Zionist settlements in Palestine, started nearly a century ago. This is the resistance, a socialist movement of millions of people, supporting their family and neighbours, not some Iranian backed organisation. Hamas are a shadow of their former selves. Their grass roots movement born out of the refuge camps in Gaza during the first intifada are gone, they find themselves politically isolated and now oppress their people no different than Israel.
Hamas actions are not for the benefit of their people and their people know that.
The Civil resistance of the Palestinian people is their basic human right to self determination.
Palestinians face two types of Israeli dominance: colonisation and apartheid, both of which violate the Palestinian people's intrinsic rights to return and self-determination. As a result of the ongoing Nakba, over 9m people have experienced forced displacement and/or transfer, which includes a total of 8 million refugees and 800,000 internally displaced persons, constituting the largest and most protracted displaced population in the world.

The right to resist foreign dominance and tyranny as a method of liberation and in pursuit of the rights to self-determination and return is an undeniable fact.
As ever it is the Palestinian people, the brave boys and girls of Gaza who are fashioning their own strategy, independent from the factions, in fact, in spite of factionalism. Therefore we must listen, quit lecturing, and perhaps learn from these young men and women as they stand bare-chested before snipers and murderers with only their chants for freedom and their faith in certain victory.

 

Honestly mate I agree with you outwith the timing of that victory of resistance with Palestine flags right after Hamas so an opportunity to cross the border for slaughter, which is a stated goal of theres to wipe out the Jews, not Israel, not Zionism. They’re a * horrendous organisation just for that never mind the rest of there extreme views.


They’ve always been very good at drawing a distinction that the politicking and funds raised for Palestine are for the people, the oppressed, the starving, the folk just trying to survive a modern day take of a massive concentration camp.
The banners words, the timing of it, the followup statement when they’ve always been very clear about Palestine and what they support, it’s taking them for idiots and patronising as * to think they won’t know how it looks.

Don’t know if it’s maybe older head’s retiring from the group and new guys being more black and white in their viewpoints but this is a distinct difference. And possibly the only time I’ve ever been on the critical side of a debate about them in this thread in the 1700 pages as well btw. I think of them as passionate, fun, brilliant lovable dafties who’s hearts are on the right side, and love the passion they approach what they care about with.

They usually get my benefit of the doubt. I’m trying to think that this time, I just don’t think they’ve shown they’re that daft through the years. And it’d be * stupid to not think it’d be taking as support for Hamas. The only doubt is they’re not politically ignorant and Hamas are the opposite of what they espouse to believe and what they actually try and fight against, however small or big the fight will be they have the willpower and passion for it. And Hamas isn’t the type of cause they would go for if you follow the pattern of their beliefs. So hopefully it’s just daftness and they rectify then I’ll be right on that side.

Btw that is a great post that I’ve not really answered most of it, because it’s spot on, it’s just not what I’m debating at the moment it’s about the style of support GB’s showing for Palestine at the moment. The different meaning yes definitely but if it was 6 months ago, with that timing, would anyone think thats what it’s referring to?