Celtic Supporters Thread (contains GB chat)

Warnings were issued to the relevant people including a final warning, its not abrupt in any shape or form.

 

If the board are lieing then of course they should be fought tooth and nail to prove it. You don't have to believe them no ones making you. As I said in the other thread don't think many lads in the group or section or anyone really interested in the ultra scene. What people like your self care to believe. The group have a wide support, from Celtic fans and other teams round the world sure the opinion of your self or the others doesn't really matter.

 

Don't be surprised. You only have to look at this forum to see the support are split right down the middle on this.

The board are the leadership of the club. They run the club. They are not identical with the club, which is made up of many elements (including every single supporter, many of whom are shareholders BTW). Both the board and the GB are, in fact, a part of this club and in that sense are equals. Given that the support are, as I said, split right down the middle, I would say that, in addition to the above, there is also a moral argument for both parties being considered equal, or at least equal in the sense that negotiation is the only way forward.

 

Warnings were issued and concessions were made, steps were also taken by the GB to address problems not of their making (fireworks, overcrowding). It's all covered in that statement you're refusing to read. This seemed an abrupt decision to me.

 

So only one side to every story or guilty until proven innocent. Should we blindly follow the directions of the board?

 

Course we shouldn't he's just talking * prob just fishing...

 

Concessions weren't really made were they? Lets be honest. Pledging to "warn" offenders and to stop some of the actions that are not allowed is hardly cooperation.

As for fireworks? Not of their making? Come on. That's just total * and you know it. It's nothing but a blatant deflection. You can't actually sit there and say it's honest for them to admit to flares, have pictures of them using flares, but then say "nah mate those flares you saw from near us, they weren't us". Come on.

As to your prior post, I think you'll find this board (and boards like it) can become very much like an echo chamber. They tend to attract only certain subsets of the fans. For example, I'd be amazed if anybody in my section has ever visited a fan forum and I know for a fact that nobody in my family (10+ season tickets) has any idea these places even exist. If anything, I'd take the fact that support on here is split (in a place where I'd expect GB support to be highest) as even more of a sign of how little the fan base at large must care.

 

I just went back and read it, fair point about the overcrowding of the section but it still needed to be addressed one way or the other.

Fireworks were let off in Section 111, doesnt matter if the GB let it off or not, they arent taking proper responsibility for their section. Why let other people, "outsiders", ruin the privilege the club has given you? They are lacking common sense

Moshing happened, Body Surfing happened, Broken seats happened and Lateral movement was blocking stairs, whether its because of another crowd problem or not, you dont solve one safety issue by doing another! All admitted by the GB.

Their admission of the crowd trouble shows that the club were well within their right to take the actions they did.

 

I think over crowding could have been addressed with a screen type thing like what separated us and the Juventus fans when we played them in the CL. Maybe have it include 110,111 and 112 making it much easier to stop overcrowding.

Overcrowding is purely a concern for stewards to prevent, not the GB and never will be addressed properly while the section is open to the whole stadium, anybody can just walk over to it, its hard to stop people from migrating over regardless if its the responsibility of the GB or stewards

 

Yes it is. Given that the people carrying out the actions weren't GB, there's not a lot more the actually can do.

The GB do not use flares or fireworks at Celtic Park. They are quite open that they don't see anything wong with flares (as opposed to fireworks), but they don't use them at Celtic Park. Nothing dishonest there at all, actually.

That works both ways. A lot of people on here have said that in fact people on here are less supportive of the GB than average fans. I only know one Celtic fan in real life and not only is he as supportive of the GB as I am, he also (unlike me) hates Lawwell for this.

 

They gave out warning on the fourm for anyone in or around section 111 not to set of these bangers. What more do you want them to do search every person in the curve? The lads have done as best they can spoke to the club and this was explained, and accepted by the club.

 

Excellent post.

 

They are doing their best, but notice it was the board that took away the tools to actually control the section this very year. I don't see how they can be held responsible for something they no longer have much control over. Neverheless the GB are actually doing their best to sort that out too.

Moshing and body surfing happened, all things that were not instigated by the GB, that go on at other clubs, and that the GB (in another concession) have agreed to try and stop. The GB dispute any safety risk involved in lateral movement, have advanced arguments to support this view and, very reasonably, wish to see some documentary evidence that there is any risk before conceding the point.

The board are not being reasonable here. The GB have (far from "playing the rebel" as some have claimed) conceded almost every point and if the board have any evidence about risks associated with lateral movement, why don't they provide it?

But then, as many have noted, it's never really been about Health and Safety (that's just an excuse); it's about banners and songs.

 

So the GB are guilty of using fireworks at Parkhead due to circumstantial evidence (using flares at away games)?

And the board are to be believed despite ACTUAL evidence (video footage, witnesses) that they have lied about the extent of damage to seats?

 

Surely, if you think your section is overcrowded, you tell the nearest steward. Surely in the position of the GB that when you get your own section you police it yourself to the best of your ability so the club arent forced to do something because of safety issues. They could easily make it very easy for stewards to spot who isnt suppose to be there if they wanted and they well know it.

Most Celtic fans dont visit their forum, its a minority. Thats not adequate where health and safety is concerned. Anyone with the slightest bit of knowledge about H&S know its not sufficient. They are not expected to search people but they left the club in an impossible situation when it went off in Section 111, given the warnings they had received. The club has procedures to follow, not following them leaves them liable. Do you think the club would have accepted it from any other section of the stadium? I dont think so

 

Dempsey, tell the nearest steward? The stewards must already know or else the club wouldn't be saying it's a problem. Also, who is this "they" that has left the club in an "impossible situation"? Certainly not the GB, since the fireworks had nothing to do with them, were immediately condemned by them and they in fact took what steps they could to try and stop it happening again.

 

They should tell the stewards the section is over-crowded?

 

I know.

 

I just read the statement there and thought it was fair. They have improved certain behaviours and they're correct in saying that it's not their duty to correct over-crowding.

I just hope that both Celtic and the GB can meet with a solution to this.

 

I have a proposal that I would like feedback on before sending on to both parties.. Here is my proposal. Thoughts and Ideas are welcome...The Grand Celtic Compromise by the GreenCowbell

I am an American expat living in the UK, and I am a huge Celtic fan. With many of you, I am extremely disappointed at the current closure of section 111 and the redistribution of the Green Brigade fans. The enthusiasm, spirit, and atmosphere of Parkhead is unique. That atmosphere just suffered a huge setback with the latest action by the Celtic FC top brass, but I do sympathize with their position. And their position is more than just about safety. But I will expand on that later on. For now, I see a worst-case scenario – the strongest Celtic supporters are at odds with the very club that they so adamantly support. This scenario is not in the best interest of Celtic FC and definitely not in the best interest of the adamant supporters. And I have a solution. It is a progressive proposal that I call the Grand Celtic Compromise.

Here are the key elements of my proposal:

1 – Designation. Celtic FC should officially designate section 111 as a “cheering section”

2 – Premium Seating. This “cheering section” should be considered premium seating, and Celtic FC shall officially recognize this section as the “Green Brigade” section. The “Green Brigade” club shall keep licensing rights to the “Green Brigade” brand.

3 – Surcharge. A surcharge of 7.50GBP shall be added to the current ticket price for seats in this special section. The incremental revenue collected by this scheme shall be used as follows

- Funding of additional 12 security personnel (6 on each side of the concourse). The additional security guards will line the concourse of section 111 to provide the following:
o Ticket validation – validation that only ticket holders of this premium section are allowed in 111.
o Observation. Identification of fans violating safety rules.
o Fixed video surveillance – fixed cctv video implemented to monitor the section during the entire game from east and west vantage points.
o Excess revenue collection higher than amount required to fund above 2 points shall be given to Green Brigade foundation to use for “spirit activities” including pro-Celtic banners, fliers, etc.

4 – Implementation of a set of pre-negotiated safety rules in section 111:
- A set of safety rules applies including no fireworks, no missiles, etc. and other rules to be setforth by Celtic FC
- CCTV will monitor compliance
- –1st offense is 2-year ban from Celtic Football. 2nd offense is life-time ban

5 - Commitment from Green Brigade to end sectarian and anti UK chants, slogans, banners, etc. Commitment from Green Brigade to remove any political manifestos from websites and/or other distribution channels.
- Video surveillance shall monitor the compliance
- Penalties shall be based on video observations, and violations will include monetary fines to be deducted from excess revenue collected in section 3-4. Celtic FC shall monitor and implement fines as appropriate.
- Green Brigade shall have a process to appeal any fines


6 – A creation of a solidarity charity coalition between Green Brigade and Celtic FC. The Green Brigade shall organize an annual charity event (i.e. a 5-k fun run, walkathon, etc.), and all funds raised via this charity event will be matched pound for pound by Celtic FC. The collective amount of funds raised shall be donated to a charity that supports unification of citizens of Glasgow (i.e. an anti sectarian cause).. At a minimum, Green Brigade commits to raising 2,000 GBP (or some other agreed upon amount).. Any shortfall shall be taken from excess revenue collection in section 3-3 above). If Green Brigade fails to organize the charity event, then the section shall be available to be re-branded by another organization willing to task the charity event.

7 – Future growth. If the above is successful, Celtic FC shall explore expanding the section from 111 to include the adjacent sections. Some fans like to sit, some like to cheer often. For those who like to cheer often, they should have an option to cheer without threat of being told to “sit doon,” etc…

That is the essence of my proposal. If interested, please tweet me or DM my twitter account, @GreenCowbell. I have 15+ years experience in budget and financial deal origination negotiations, and I am willing to act as a pro bono arbitrator to help see this to an amicable end. C’MON YOU BHOYS IN GREEN!!!!!CELTIC..CELTIC..CELTIC..