Celtic Fans Anti-Poppy Stand Condemned

A Westminster MP from the Derry area has accused Glasgow Celtic of "not doing enough to stop an anti-Poppy protest".

The DUP's Gregory Campbell is upset even though the team's management apologised for banners unfurled by a group styling itself the 'Green Brigade' at half-time during its 9-0 home win over Aberdeen on Saturday.

'Your deeds would shame all the devils in Hell. Ireland, Iraq, Afghanistan. No bloodstained poppy on our Hoops', said the fans' banners, which Mr Campbell said, was not the first year there had been such protests.

"I know that Celtic have apologised and that is right, and that is a good step for them to take," said the East Londonderry MP.

"I think they need to go further, because it has happened last year and in previous years, and it will happen again next year."

He said they need "to stand up and lance this boil and say not only are we going to be passive in this, we are going to actively promote the act of remembrance".

"These people died so we can all have freedom, even the freedom to insult those who paid the supreme sacrifice.

"That's the freedom those people laid down their lives for, and I think the very least those people and their relatives could expect is that people would remember that with dignity," he fumed.

However, Celtic said in a statement: "The actions of this small minority have no place at Celtic Park.

"We are currently investigating the matter and, clearly, we apologise for any offence caused."

The Belfast News Letter flagged the story on its front page today and said that the Celtic supporters calling themselves the Green Brigade were angered at the team's participation in an initiative by the Scottish Premier League, which involves all 12 clubs wearing a poppy on their kits for the matches over the coming Remembrance weekend.

Making reference to Bloody Sunday, Basra and the sinking of the Argentinian warship the General Belgrano during the Falklands War, a website statement said: "While we recognise the right of individuals to remember their dead and that many within the Celtic support will wear the poppy in memory of family and friends lost in WW2 and other confects, we cannot accept the imposition of the poppy onto our shirts."

The group is reported to be trying to organise a boycott of this weekend's match at St Mirren when the poppy will appear on the Celtic players' kits.

(BMcC/GK)