CLAIMS that Celtic supporters have been subjected to “police brutality” and “dangerous police practices” at matches this season have been dismissed.
The Green Brigade ultras group unfurled a banner during the cinch Premiership game against Dundee at Parkhead on Wednesday night which read: “Police Brutality – PLC Complicity. Fans Demand Change. All Cops Are B*******”.
The display came after a video of a fan being arrested by four police officers outside Fir Park before the league match with Motherwell three days earlier was posted by North Curve Celtic on X (formerly Twitter).
The North Curve Celtic – a “fan collective which represents Celtic fans within the standing section at Celtic Park” – post read: “Once again, Celtic fans were subject to dangerous police practices at Sunday's match through the use of excessive force, police horses and steel pens.
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“This is a pattern of behaviour that the club has done nothing to address despite increasing concerns of fans.
“The fan clearly becomes distressed, flailing his legs and screaming that he couldn't breathe due to the weight, particularly on his neck. In a separate incident, another young fan was assaulted by police resulting in multiple stitches to the head and a broken arm.
However, David Kennedy, the general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, dismissed the accusations.
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“If police have been over-zealous then there would be complaints about it,” he said. “It is not something which has been flagged to me. The days of someone getting hit by a police officer and it not being reported are long gone, especially at a football match.”
Police Scotland arrested and charged 11 men aged between 15 and 30 in connection with disorder offences at the Motherwell match against Celtic at Fir Park in September. A police officer and a steward were injured during an incident before kick-off.
Celtic banned members of The Green Brigade from attending all of their matches in October for a “serious escalation in unacceptable behaviours” – offences which included rushing turnstiles and forcing exits in the Fir Park fixture.
The group were allowed back in December but the Scottish champions released a statement on Wednesday night which revealed they had received complaints from supporters who had been “adversely affected” by fans without valid tickets attempting to gain entry to their Premiership game against Motherwell at Fir Park on Sunday.
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