Celtic (and other) fans play their part for Palestine

I HAVE BEEN A CELTIC FAN long enough to remember standing in the old ‘Jungle’ at Old Firm matches when the official capacity was increased so much that you could let go of your can of beer and it wouldn’t fall to the ground, there were so many people packed closely together.

These were the days before health and safety regulations and the tragedy of Hillsborough when football was primarily a working-class sport played on a Saturday afternoon at 3pm.

Over the years there have been many trials and tribulations and many a nerve has been shattered following Celtic and many changes in the way football is run.

During that time, I have been to Glasgow umpteen times and travelled to Europe to roar on “The Hoops”, including the famous trip to Seville on which close to one hundred thousand fans descended to support the Celts that earned the fans both the UEFA and FIFA Fair Play Award for that year.

I have met many fans, ranging from the fanatical who never miss a match to people who have never set foot in Celtic Park, but every man and woman have a common bond in that they hold the club close to their heart and (apart from a few drunken eejits) the vast majority would never purposely act in a manner that would disrespect or damage the club.

Then comes Wednesday 17 August and Celtic are playing Hapoel Beer Sheva of Israel in a Champions League qualifying match and the fans are faced with a dilemma – whether to mount a visual and peaceful protest to highlight the injustices of the illegal occupation of Palestine and face UEFA sanctions or remain silent in the face of threats from Europe’s governing body. (A quandary that, coincidentally, now faces Dundalk FC fans.)

Of course I don’t have to tell the full history of Celtic Football Club but it is safe to say that protesting against repression and injustices is in its DNA, and on that Wednesday evening the famous (or infamous?) Green Brigade put on a display of Palestinian solidarity that has gone viral across the globe.

This was in stark contrast to the virtual ignoring by the Western mainstream media of the ongoing attacks on Gaza and the repression in the occupied West Bank

Critics have attempted to portray the display as anti-Semitic yet Nir Bitton, an Israeli citizen, received as much support from the crowd as every other player in the famous hooped jersey, and will continue to do so every time he pulls on that top.

Others have said that politics and sport shouldn’t be mixed yet remain silent when the Ethiopian runner Feyisa Lilesa makes a political gesture while collecting his Olympic medal.

Over the years – whether it was Jessie Owen, the Black Power salutes in the 1960s, the US-led boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics or the refusal by one of the greatest sports people of all time, Muhammad Ali (see bottom of page), to go to Vietnam – sport has always been a vehicle to highlight political grievances.

Few football fans can forget the five crumpled bodies of children lying on a Gaza beach targeted by Israeli gunboats while playing football, as well as the thousands of children killed, maimed or forced to flee to refugee camps because of their nationality.

As UEFA came out to announce there would be an investigation into the display, the Green Brigade announced an appeal called matchthefineforpalestine in which the proceeds will be donated to two charities in Palestine, Medical Aid Palestine and Lajee Centre, a cultural and sports project for children in Aida refugee camp, in Bethlehem.

In less than 48 hours, over £100,000 was raised, including donations from fans who clearly stated they support arch-rivals Rangers. (As I write, the fund has almost met its target of £160,000.)

Around the football globe, the gesture by the Celtic fans has been acknowledged by many other football  supporters with banners appearing in grounds saluting the actions of the Celtic fans.

The Green Brigade have been accused of foisting their support for Palestine upon others yet the record of Celtic fans in standing up and being counted is there for all to see.

Over the past few years, food has been collected to supply the food banks of Glasgow, money was raised for Galician fisherman before a match against Celta Vigo after an oil spill in 2003, the “Thai Tims” of the Good Child Foundation in Thailand have been supported, as well as solidarity shown with prisoners in Ireland during our recent conflict.

I am proud to say that the Celtic fans took the initiative to highlight the injustices of the occupation of Palestine and that the solidarity with the Palestine people came before the financial implications that will be imposed by UEFA.

When people ask me why do I follow a team that plays in a substandard league compared to England, Italy or Spain, I can proudly say that Celtic is more than a football club and the actions of the fans since 17 August have clearly proven that.

● In 1967, Muhammad Ali (pictured right) refused to be drafted into the US Army during the Vietnam War, declaring: “I ain’t got no quarrel with those Vietcong.” He was stripped of his heavyweight title, convicted of draft evasion, sentenced to five years in prison, fined $10,000 and banned from boxing for three years. He stayed out of prison while he appealed the verdict. He returned to boxing in 1970. In 1971, the US Supreme Court overturned his conviction.