Celtic ban Green Brigade for three games after police officers and steward assaulted during Falkirk match

Celtic ultras The Green Brigade have been banned for three games after two police officers and a steward were assaulted during the team’s win over Falkirk.

The incident took place in Parkhead last Wednesday as the Hoops beat the Bairns 4-0 in the Premiership.

A statement from Celtic claimed members of the group stepped in to stop police arresting a supporter, who had allegedly assaulted a steward during a “routine ticket check”.

The club said around 100 Green Brigade members were involved in the incident, in which the two officers and steward were physically and verbally attacked.

At one point, there was a risk of one of the officers being pulled to the ground and trampled.

The force said officers involved in the disorder “were left extremely shaken and traumatised”.

Celtic slammed the group over the “unacceptable” attack in a statement on Friday evening.

The club said: “During our match against Falkirk on Wednesday, October 29, a member of our matchday staff while conducting a routine ticket check at the front of the Rail Seating Section at Celtic Park was assaulted by an individual. Two police officers intervened and attempted to arrest the individual in question.

“Subsequently, around 100 individuals from the Green Brigade group took part in a coordinated and orchestrated action to ‘rescue’ that individual. Many of these individuals actively sought to conceal their identity using hoods, scarves and face coverings.

“This large group verbally abused and assaulted the steward and police officers, one male and one female, in a confined space and at one point there was a risk of one of the officers being pulled to the ground and trampled in amongst the larger group. The action taken by members of the Green Brigade group prevented the arrest of the individual in question.

“Clearly, such violent and threatening behaviour is completely unacceptable.”

Celtic added the group had been handed a suspended sanction in July following repeated warnings over safety and security breaches of Celtic’s policies and protocols.

The Green Brigade will now be banned from attending three home matches. Access to away matches will also be suspended for the relevant period.

The statement continued. “The Club has written to the Green Brigade group and also to our season ticket holders regarding this incident.

“For our staff and police to be assaulted in this way is simply unacceptable. This was a serious and violent incident which cannot be accepted and the Club has no choice but to address this behaviour in the strongest terms.

“Celtic Park cannot be a place for this kind of behaviour and the Club must act in the wider interests and safety of everyone who attends our matches.”

Assistant Chief Constable Mark Sutherland said: “We utterly condemn the unacceptable disorder on Wednesday, October 29, within Celtic Park after two officers and a steward were assaulted by a large group of fans.

“No one should be harmed or intimidated while carrying out their duties, and being assaulted is not part of the job. This type of violent behaviour will not be tolerated, and we are doing everything we can to trace those involved and hold them accountable.

“We recognise that only a small percentage of fans behave in such a way and cause disorder, but encourage all supporters to take personal responsibility for their conduct at matches. The officers and steward were left extremely shaken and traumatised by the incident and are being offered support.

“We work closely with all clubs and event organisers to assist their plans for maintaining public safety.

“We’d urge anyone with information about these assaults and disorder to contact us as soon as possible on 101.”