Celtic supporters defy club AGAIN by displaying Palestinian flags

Celtic fans once again defied their club to hold up Palestinian flags during the club's Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid.

Members of the clubs' Green Bridgade supporters group previously acted against the wishes of the Scottish club during a weekend tie against Hearts, mounting a similar display in a show of solidarity with Palestine amidst roiling conflict in Gaza.

In response to Sunday's fan movement, Celtic issued a statement that distanced itself from the gesture, and doubled-down on their stadium ban on associated flags.

'Banners displayed in a section of Celtic Park prior to Saturday's game do not represent the views of Celtic Football Club and we disassociate ourselves from them. We condemn the display of such messages at Celtic Park,' they said.

'Celtic is a football club and not a political organisation. One of our core values from inception is to be open to all regardless of race, colour, politics or creed.

'That is why the club has always made clear that political messages and banners are not welcome at Celtic Park, or any match involving Celtic.'

But the club were unable to stop a second display during the UEFA fixture, which will likely see Celtic incur a fine.

The Green Brigade were banned from an early entrance to Celtic Park on Wednesday evening, but ensured the display went ahead after distributing 'thousands' of Palestinian flags ahead of the tie.

In a statement shared by the group, they said: In a statement shared by the group, they said that the club was 'motivated by a desire to quash political expression within the Celtic support,' but despite this, they would 'once again encourage fans to courageously fly the flag for Palestine.'

'For those unable to obtain a flag, the Green Brigade will distribute thousands of flags outside the stadium,' the statement continued. 'While it would be easier to distribute flags inside, we are prohibited from bringing the flags into the stadium.'

Following the club's statement after facing Hearts, the Celtic Supporters' Association were another group keen to stress that that they 'have the right to express political views on the terraces'.

In a statement of their own, the supporters' group said: 'Following a recent Celtic PLC statement we would like to reiterate our unshakeable belief that we, and other football supporters, have the right to express political views on the terraces just as ordinary citizens do elsewhere in society.

'Football remains one of the few areas of public life where working class people have genuine political agency, and we will not be dictated to by an elitist board that has repeatedly demonstrated contempt for the history and traditions of Celtic Football Club.'

Celtic are not the only club whose supporters have flouted bans on flags relating to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, with a number of Palestinian flags spotted in the stands for Liverpool's clash with Everton at Anfield.

Despite a Premier League ban on bringing either of the two flags to be displayed at football stadiums, and a plea from Tottenham themselves, Spurs' match against Fulham also saw Israeli fans displayed in the away end.

Mail Sport's reporters spotted over 14 flags inside Craven Cottage on Monday evening.

At Celtic Park, both the home side and their visitors will sport black armbands for the fixture 'as a show of respect and support for all those affected by the conflict'.

In 2016, UEFA levied a sanction at the Scottish club after supporters similarly displayed Palestinian flags during a meeting with Israeli side Hapoel Be'er Sheva.