The biggest game of Celtic’s season is nearing as the League Cup semi-final against Rangers approaches.
Brendan Rodgers is looking to defend the cup Celtic won against Rangers last season in a final that was decided on penalties after a thrilling 3-3 draw.
Whether or not the upcoming semi-final on the 2nd of November will provide the same amount of excitement for Celtic fans is not known.
But what is a fact is that the team will need every Celtic supporter behind them at Hampden, but now, it looks like that is not going to happen after the latest statement from the Green Brigade.
Green Brigade to boycott Celtic vs Rangers League Cup semi-final
Celtic will lose 500 seats due to the use of pyro in last season’s semi-final against Aberdeen and it appears that the club has hit the Green Brigade hard.
The Green Brigade said on X, “As a result of the ticket allocation reduction at the upcoming League Cup Semi-final, the Green Brigade has received no ticket allocation.
“Although we wholeheartedly reject the notion of collective punishment, and have regularly defied similar suspensions in the past, we will not be attending this match.
“We believe that the Celtic support is at a watershed moment for unity and capacity to enact positive change at our club. We are committed to this goal and the development of the Celtic Fans Collective which is the best available apparatus for improving the experience of all Celtic fans.
“Collective punishment is an unfair practice. It has repeatedly been used against football supporters for a variety of reasons to force conformity and sow division.
“Irrespective of any perceived concerns, the best solutions will always be reached through meaningful supporter engagement and not through draconian sanctions.”
Green Brigade criticise Celtic board’s ‘desire to exploit’ fans
Not only are the Green Brigade refusing to attend the semi-final, the Ultras have taken a potshot at the Celtic board for what they are doing with an ‘undisclosed amount of standard tickets’.
The statement continues, “There is a persistent, common thread running through Scottish Football of poor fan relations – with Celtic sitting top of the table.
“In a further demonstration of a detachment from fans, fairness and transparency, Celtic FC has sold an undisclosed amount of standard tickets as Hospitality Packages for this match.
“Priced between £150-£300 (excluding VAT), this legalised ticket touting exposes the Club’s desire to exploit supporter demand and sow unnecessary division between fans.
“Finally, we thank Bhoys Celtic, for another gesture of solidarity and rejection of unfair fan practices.”
The split between the Celtic board and the fans seems to have grown despite the recent meeting the Collective had with the Parkhead executives last week.
And looking at the reaction online, Celtic supporters are not too happy with this latest turn of events.
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