The Hoops have shared details of their meeting with council chiefs last Friday

18:01, 02 Dec 2025Updated 20:49, 02 Dec 2025

The safe standing section at Celtic Park(Image: Getty Images)

Celtic fear they will be forced into closing the club’s safe standing section after council bosses threatened to throw the book at them.

Around 200 members of the Green Brigade had been temporarily banned from the stadium following the events of the clash with Falkirk at the end of October in which both police and stewards at Celtic Park were allegedly assaulted.

That ban was ignored by Green Brigade members but following a meeting with council chiefs on Friday, the club have now confirmed safety concerns have now forced their hand in closing the first six rows of the safe standing sections which are occupied by the Green Brigade, as well as extending their suspension indefinitely, preventing them from accessing Celtic Park and attending away matches. The safe standing section holds up to 3,000 fans in total.

Tensions between fan groups and the Parkhead hierarchy are already at boiling point following last month’s disastrous AGM, and the Celtic Fan Collective have announced they will stage a protest march against club chiefs before kick-off against Hearts on Sunday. Before that, the champions welcome Dundee to Glasgow’s East End on Wednesday night in what will be the final game at the helm for interim boss Martin O’Neill before Wilfried Nancy takes up the reins.

Their statement read: “The Club wishes to advise Celtic supporters that the suspension of the Green Brigade has been extended. This is due to safety incidents involving the Green Brigade, including direct threats against the Club’s Head of Safety and Security Operations, impacting safety within the rail seating section. This suspension will remain in place until the Club is satisfied that the Green Brigade will engage in the safe operation of the stadium, which is critical for the continued operation of the entire rail seating section.

“Unfortunately, due to recent safety incidents and developments regarding the Green Brigade, including meetings of the Safety Advisory Group of Glasgow City Council most recently on Friday 28 November, the Club has been left with no option but to:Close the first 6 rows of the front section of the rail seating section at Celtic Park, and Suspend the Green Brigade’s season tickets and access to tickets at Celtic Park and away matches.

“The closure and suspension will remain in place until the Club is satisfied that it can engage with the Green Brigade in the safe operation of the rail seating section in line with the Club’s risk assessments and operations plans, which the Club is reviewing in light of recent conduct.

“In summary, the Club requires to take this action following recent events: The conduct of the Green Brigade at the match against Falkirk FC when, following an incident in the stadium concourse, around 100 members of the Green Brigade, many of whom took steps to conceal their identity, left the rail seating section and intervened in a violent, threatening and intimidating manner. The Green Brigade has not complied with the suspension applied following that incident. The group attended the home match against Kilmarnock FC.

“A Safety Advisory Group meeting was called regarding the group’s conduct. The group has not responded to the Club’s request in advance of that meeting to confirm that the group will comply with the suspension and the safety management operation at Celtic Park, including regulations and codes of conduct applicable to the Rail Seating Section.

Green Brigade brings the Pyro

“Two members of the Green Brigade, who regularly represent the group at safety/operational meetings with the Club’s staff, approached the Club’s Head of Safety & Security Operations prior to the Club’s AGM and directly threatened him and sought to intimidate him.

“The safety management of the Rail Seating Section requires the engagement of the supporters in the section in compliance with the regulations and codes of conduct applicable to the Rail Seating Section. The Green Brigade are being asked only to comply with the safety management operation, which is designed for the safety of all supporters.

“Given the conduct of the group and group members, which directly impacts safety within the rail seating section, the Club is not satisfied that the Green Brigade is engaging with the Club’s safety management of their attendance at Celtic Park. That is particularly so, when threats have been made to Club staff responsible for the safety management of the stadium. These threats are completely unacceptable.

“Following the recent Safety Advisory Group meetings, the Club requires to report to the Safety Advisory Group following each match at Celtic Park regarding safety management of the rail seating section. If the Green Brigade attends a match at Celtic Park during the suspension, this will be taken into account by the Safety Advisory Group in connection with its assessment of the Safety Certificate for Celtic Park, and the entire rail seating section in particular.

“The Club remains open to engaging with the group when appropriate but cannot accept recent conduct, in particular threats to Club staff. To be clear, this suspension is entirely unrelated to any protests or banners, and is based on the safety issues and violent, threatening and intimidating behaviour outlined above.”