Northern Ireland

Brendan Rodgers: Leave politics out of Celtic Park

Celtic have been hit with UEFA disciplinary action over a banner "portraying a person in a paramilitary uniform" during their Champions League victory over Linfield at Celtic Park last week. Picture by Jeff Holmes, PA Wire
Celtic have been hit with UEFA disciplinary action over a banner "portraying a person in a paramilitary uniform" during their Champions League victory over Linfield at Celtic Park last week. Picture by Jeff Holmes, PA Wire Celtic have been hit with UEFA disciplinary action over a banner "portraying a person in a paramilitary uniform" during their Champions League victory over Linfield at Celtic Park last week. Picture by Jeff Holmes, PA Wire

CELTIC manager Brendan Rodgers has called for supporters to leave politics out of Celtic Park.

The Co Antrim man was speaking as the club prepared to close a section of the stadium housing the 'Green Brigade' for the first of two home games because of "serious incidents of unsafe behaviour".

Celtic were hit with UEFA disciplinary charges over a banner "portraying a person in a paramilitary uniform" and blocked stairways during their Champions League victory over Linfield last week.

The case will be dealt with on Friday.

The final home game last season against Hearts, during which flares were let off in the Green Brigade area, was also cited as a factor in the club's decision.

Ahead of a Champions League qualifying clash with Rosenborg at Parkhead tonight, Rodgers said: "I have always been aware of Celtic's heritage, charitable work and football work.

"That's what it was in 1888 and is to this day.

"Celtic is not a political arena for any supporters to come into and display any sort of political element."

The Green Brigade, formed in 2006, describe themselves as an 'ultra' group of fans "which aim to bring colour and noise to matches both home and away".

"With a vibrant and somewhat controversial history, the Green Brigade aim to fuse together ultra culture with politics in the stands of Celtic Park and beyond," they say.

The group acknowledge their ethos has led to conflict with police and the club over the years - other controversial banners have depicted Bobby Sands and opposed the wearing of the poppy - but insist they will not change.

Rodgers yesterday praised the atmosphere generated by that section of fans at games, but said he was "saddened" by what he had seen.

"The club have worked tirelessly over the years, the first club in Britain to put in a (safe) standing section, and 99.9 per cent of the time they along with the rest of the fans give us this incredible support. But the political element is not acceptable," he said.

"There are forums, platform for that outside of football. Take that somewhere else.

"It is not for inside Celtic Park. It is not what the values are, the ethos is and it is certainly not what I'm about as a manager."

In a statement at the weekend, the Green Brigade accepted responsibility for its actions at recent games but criticised the club's decision to impose a "blanket ban".

They added that "we will never allow our style nor our politics to ever be diluted".

Meanwhile, Linfield have given a lifetime ban to a person convicted of a criminal offence committed during last week's game in Glasgow.

Linfield said the person was not a club member or season ticket holder and it had begun an investigation to establish how they were able to obtain a match ticket.

The club was punished with a partial stadium closure for its next European tie after objects were thrown at Celtic players during the first leg of the Champions League tie a week earlier in Belfast.

"We continue to co-operate with the PSNI over the events of the first leg and are hopeful that individuals who have now been identified will shortly appear before the courts," it said.

"Linfield note that the local courts have the power to issue banning orders against individuals convicted of criminal offences in football stadia and would be fully supportive of such punishments being invoked in the event of convictions arising from this match."

Celtic player Leigh Griffiths also received a one-match ban for provoking spectators by tying a Celtic scarf to a goalpost after the final whistle in Belfast, while both clubs were also fined.