Green Brigade Europa League boycott labelled 'wrong' as Celtic hero backs other fans to bring the noise

Celtic hero Frank McAvennie thinks the Green Brigade boycott of European matches is ‘wrong’ and that the group can protest in other ways while still backing the team.

Earlier this month, the ultras group released a statement claiming they will not attend all home Europa League fixtures amid an ongoing feud with the Celtic board. This means the north curve will be empty for Thursday night’s clash with Spanish outfit Celta Vigo in the competition’s league phase.

McAvennie, who spent four years over two spells as a player at Parkhead, is the latest ex-pro to condemn the group. He believes there are other ways in which the Green Brigade can express their frustrations and that the boycott will negatively impact the players on the pitch, who have nothing to do with behind-the-scenes matters.

Why does McAvennie believe the Green Brigade boycott is ‘wrong’?

Speaking on his Let Me Be Frank podcast, he said: “I think it’ll be good. Listen, it’s Europe. This is what they play all year for. People forget about it. It’s, ‘We don’t need it.’ We do need it. That’s what players want, to play in Europe. Whoever gets out there on Thursday night is going to be up for it, I think. And the rest of the fans will be up for it if the Green Brigade go as well. I think it’s wrong that they’re doing it because it’s not the right way, because it’s going against the team.

“Everyone keeps raving about it, and this Green Brigade keep talking about it, the best atmosphere in club football and all that. People rave about it. You can’t do that because it’s going against the team. Don’t spend anything, but go to the game. You’ve got your tickets. Back the team like they did at the weekend. There was none of this board. They got behind the team, we got seven goals (at the weekend against Hearts), one against, and it was a great atmosphere.”

Hoops hero backs rest of Celtic Park to set up

While it’s no secret that the Green Brigade add to the atmosphere at Parkhead, McAvennie also believes the rest of the fans will step up to create an intimidating environment for their opponents on a vitally important European night under the lights.

He continued: “If Celtic score early against Celta, it won’t matter whether the Green Brigade are there or not because the whole stadium will be rocking. The Green Brigade are great for certain things, but Celtic were voted the best supporters in Europe for long, long before the Green Brigade. If they’re not there, the rest of the boys will start singing. But the team’s got to do it on the pitch.”

Thursday night’s clash with Celtic’s ‘Spanish cousins’ gives them an opportunity to get off the mark in the Europa League, having lost out to Ferencvaros and Benfica in their opening encounters. The visitors certainly aren’t planning any boycott for the game, with an estimated 3,000 Celta Vigo fans heading to Glasgow.

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