Celtic defended over Green Brigade return as talkSPORT shock jock told why he's wrong over ultras stance
The Green Brigade will be allowed back in the stands on Saturday as Celtic face St Mirren at Parkhead
Former Liverpool midfielder, Danny Murphy and a talkSPORT pundit have disagreed on the impact that the return of the Green Brigade can have on Celtic for the remainder of this season.
Around 200 members of the fan group were banned from Celtic Park ‘indefinitely’ after failing to comply with a previous six-match suspension. However, five months on, the Hoops hierarchy have decided to lift the sanctions and allow members back into the stadium for their remaining fixtures. After the pre-split fixture with St Mirren this weekend, Celtic will face Falkirk, Rangers and Hearts at home.
Jordan isn’t convinced that allowing that section fans back into a stadium with a capacity of 60,000 will have a significant impact on Celtic. On the contrary, Murphy believes the suspension being lifted can help change the atmosphere at Parkhead and in turn, help matters on the pitch, using Premier League side Crystal Palace as an example.
Green Brigade can create Celtic Park ‘ripple effect’
Speaking on talkSPORT alongside Jim White, the host asked the pair if Celtic have reversed the ban to create a more ‘lively’ atmosphere at Parkhead going into the business end of the season, to which Jordan responded: “How many fans is it? 200? Come on?!”
However, Murphy holds a different viewpoint. He answered: “It’s the ripple effect of a certain group. You see it at Palace as a great example. It does spread. Maybe that went into the thinking. Maybe it’s nothing to do with it. It certainly, as a player, you don’t really care that they behave a bit better than them. You want the stadium full of the most passionate fans you have got, so I think it could be a small percentage win, yes.”
Off the field issues have been prevalent throughout the season at Celtic Park, with fan protests breaking out on nigh on a weekly basis. What remains to be seen is how the Green Brigade will react to being allowed back in. With so much at stake in their remaining fixtures, will they put their frustrations with the board to one side and support the team? Or will they continue to protest?
Celtic statement on lifting Green Brigade suspension
A club statement released on Tuesday evening read: “On March 27th, at a meeting of Glasgow City Council Safety Advisory Group, the Club again addressed the suspension on the Green Brigade. The SAG confirmed that it did not object to the suspension being lifted, subject to three conditions being satisfied.
“These were that all applicable policies will be adhered to, including season ticket terms and conditions; agreement that members will comply with the safety and security operations; recognition that a match-by-match report will be submitted to the Safety Advisory Group, for as long as they deem it necessary. We communicated this to the Green Brigade and asked for their unconditional acceptance. They have today responded positively by accepting these conditions, as outlined.”
Celtic interim chairman, Brian Wilson, commented: “I am pleased we have reached this point where suspensions can be lifted with the agreement of Glasgow City Council Safety Advisory Group on terms which apply to supporters throughout the stadium. On that basis, a full and united Celtic Park can get behind the team at this crucial point in the season.”