The Green Brigade: Hooligans or philanthropists?

Celtic football club has a long history of progressive and anti-establishment activity. Writer Lorcan Adams explores the contemporary concerns of Celtic ultras group, The Green Brigade

The Green Brigade. They’re the infamous Celtic ultras group. Well known for a number of reasons, including their renowned Tifos, something you’re probably not aware of is their charity and fundraising work. Especially when it comes to causes they support, like Palestinian liberation, the group have achieved impressive feats. It doesn’t fit in with the picture of violent thugs the media usually likes to paint. This side of the Green Brigade is arguably their most important and interesting, challenging traditional ideas of what ultras groups are and what they do. But what motivates this support? And is it really as surprising as some might suggest?

Celtic’s history is rooted in progressive and anti-establishment causes. Initially founded by Irish immigrants in the east end of Glasgow, the goal of the club was to raise money for the impoverished Irish-Scots community in the local area. Many of Celtic’s founding figures were also involved in radical politics with a notable example being Micheal Davitt, Celtic’s first patron, who was a republican MP in Ireland and widely recognised for his work as a land reformer. This history has shaped the modern identity of the club and especially club supporter organisations like the Green Brigade.

The Green Brigade are unapologetically political. Describing themselves as “anti-racist, anti-sectarian, anti-fascist and left-wing”

The Green Brigade are unapologetically political. Describing themselves as “anti-racist, anti-sectarian, anti-fascist and left-wing” in their founding statement from 2006. This kind of politics is comfortably at home at Celtic, but the Green Brigade makes it their defining characteristic, separating them from other supporters’ organisations. Often the general consensus is that ultras – especially those who espouse political rhetoric – are automatically hateful and violent.

But what do their actions tell us? Do the Green Brigade practice what they preach? It seems so. One of the most notable examples of this is their annual food drive which they organise around Christmas. It’s work that’s been going on for years, with their most recent collection program in December 2024 raising £21,000 in funds, and enough food donations to fill 7 vans. These are distributed to food banks around Glasgow, helping many different communities during the holiday season. It’s an admirable effort for a relatively small force of around a thousand members. It’s also not just about rivalry, with the campaign also building solidarity. However, nowhere is this clearer than in the Green Brigade’s steadfast support of Palestine.

Celtic was fined £18,000 by UEFA because of the Green Brigade and other fans flying Palestinian flags in a game against KR Reykjavik

Celtic’s fan base have long supported Palestine, in part due to the fact many associate the historical Irish struggle for self-determination and civil rights with the ongoing Palestinian movement. The Green Brigade being at the forefront of this for quite some time. Over a decade ago, Celtic was fined £18,000 by UEFA because of the Green Brigade and other fans flying Palestinian flags in a game against KR Reykjavik. This is something the Celtic board have tried to dissuade fans from doing in recent years – but it hasn’t worked. In the latest Champions league season, the group flew Palestinian and Lebanese flags against Dortmund, also displaying a banner reading “They can oppress you, they can imprison you, but they will never break your spirit” in the Slovan Bratislava match. Most recently starting the “show ‘Israel’ the red card” movement by setting up banners in their first leg against Bayern. This movement has since been joined by 130 football fan groups around the world.

However their support for Palestine isn’t just limited to flag waving and banners. In 2016, Celtic were yet again fined by UEFA for fans flying Palestinian flags against Israeli side Hapoel Be’er Sheva, which were deemed as “illicit banners”. In response to this, the Green Brigade decided to hit back and began an online fundraising campaign with the aim to “#matchthefineforpalestine”. This effort raised a staggering £176,000, further emphasising the Celtic fanbase’s commitment to the Palestinian movement. This money was split between the charity Medical Aid for Palestine and the Bethlehem refugee camp based Lajee centre.

The Lajee centre is a community based cultural centre, offering opportunities to refugee youth they never had before. The additional funds raised by the Green Brigade’s campaign helped the Lajee centre found Aida Celtic (now Lajee Celtic) in 2019. Lajee Celtic is a football team based in the Aida refugee camp, specifically made up of young refugees. The club is managed by the Lajee centre and supported by the Green Brigade. Its aim is to encourage young Palestinians to take up football and help develop the skills of players where they had no support before. Their work allows aspiring Palestinian footballers to explore their passion to the fullest, in spite of Israeli oppression. In August 2024 the Green Brigade collaborated with Scottish band Primal Scream to release another Lajee Celtic jersey, with the money made from these sales going back to the Lajee centre and the club. Lajee Celtic also support the Green Brigade’s international red card movement.

Use of pyrotechnics like fireworks is a recurring issue, which the club and many other fans view as needlessly dangerous

All of this isn’t to say that the Green Brigade are saints that can do no wrong. Use of pyrotechnics like fireworks is a recurring issue, which the club and many other fans view as needlessly dangerous. Members of the group are also regularly involved in fights with Rangers’ ultras groups like the Union Bears. Recently this occurred on the day of the Scottish League Cup final last December, with the two ultras groups involved in clashes throughout the city centre. Although they apologised for their role in “creating incidents”, violence of any kind is unacceptable and directly goes against the Green Brigade’s stated mission of building community and solidarity. 

However, examples of violence shouldn’t overshadow the impact of the group, and the useful work they do. By focusing on the sensationalist stories of violent battles and aggressive thugs the media distract from the positive effects ultras can have. For all their flaws the Green Brigade bring passion to Celtic Park and have managed to help people. To accurately and fairly represent ultras, the good must be included whilst also acknowledging the bad.