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Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
Celtic put up fencing around Parkhead; fans react
Celtic have put up fencing around Paradise to curb potential fan protest against St. Johnstone on Sunday.
The Glasgow Times reported that the barriers go down the entire length of the Celtic Way, as well as blocking off the entrance to Celtic’s Superstore.
With this measure, the club are sending out a clear message following the unpleasant scenes outside Parkhead last Sunday. Celtic – as if you needed reminding – slumped to a heartless 2-0 defeat against Ross County, and hundreds of fans turned up at full time to protest.
With this drastic measure, the board have hardly given Neil Lennon a vote of confidence going into Sunday’s clash.
The online reaction has been swift
Fans have been quick to react to the Celtic hierarchy’s bizarre decision on Twitter.
Celtic putting up barriers to stop fan protests says everything about them and nothing about us. They’ve fucked it, they know it, but will dig their heels in at all costs to deny it. Pathetic.
— frankie (@madebyfrankie) December 4, 2020
Desmond Peter and Neil fencing of the Celtic support as if they’re the 3 musketeers ffs
— Bernard Bernard (@BernardMelvill3) December 4, 2020
Something really shameless about the Celtic board erecting fences around the stadium to stop fan protests while happily pocketing a fortune from them for the ‘Pass to Paradise’, i.e access to a crap stream to the watch crap football on the tv at home. pic.twitter.com/DrxQEelqNc
— Liam O’Hare (@Liam_O_Hare) December 4, 2020
Neil Lennon has gave the term “Fortress Celtic Park” a whole different meaning 😂 pic.twitter.com/Tit7zyRIbU
— Joe Matthews (@redoctober91) December 4, 2020
Putting a fence up around Celtic Park to keep fans away is nothing short of disgusting shite bag behaviour, REMEMBER THESE ACTIONS when they are wanting to take money from yer bank account next season for renewals. IT’S celtic FC NOT celtic plc. #FansbeforeProfits
— GGW (@glasgowsgreenw) December 4, 2020
“We know that many Celtic supporters share very honest and real concerns and they are being heard by the club”. pic.twitter.com/WiTyPZ7EQ5
— Paul (@pault1888) December 4, 2020
Celtic’s largest shareholder Dermot Desmond and Chief Executive Peter Lawwell / (Photo by Craig Foy / (SNS Group via Getty Images)
An absolutely baffling decision
The Celtic board have only just come out with a statement about unity. For all the rhetoric about togetherness and supporting the club through this downturn in form, Lawwell’s words and actions ring hollow.
This is totalitarian stuff. Absolutely, last Sunday’s actions should not be repeated, but the principle is entirely fair enough. If it’s safe to do so, Celtic fans have every right to protest the board. They pay good money to support the club.
Celtic Football Club’s management are looking more and more despotic by the day. It’s hard to know how they can possibly win back the trust of supporters at this point.
Sure, the safety and security of fans is important. It’s a travesty that police had to be called last Sunday, and it ended how it did.
But… come on.
With this move, the board have damaged the reputation of the club. Lawwell and Desmond crave good PR, and good PR this is not. Poor results were bringing the club enough unwanted attention. Fencing off the stadium while advertising an expensive streaming service will only make it worse.
What a crazy month it’s been.
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