Hundreds of supporters took
part in demonstrations outside Celtic park before the club's Champions League
play-off tie with Israeli side Hapoel Be’er Sheva last Wednesday, before flying
the national flag of Palestine inside the ground.
Celtic fan has raised over
£75,000 for Palestinian charities in protest at UEFA charging the club over a
flag display.
Following the tie, UEFA
charged the club over an "illicit banner" display, releasing the
following statement: "Disciplinary proceedings have been opened following
the UEFA Champions League play-offs, first leg, between Celtic FC and H.
Beer-Sheva FC (5-2) played on 17 August in Glasgow [Scotland]."
In response to the disciplinary
action, a group of Celtic supporters created a Go Fund Me page in view of
raising £75,000 for Palestinian charities, including Medical Aid Palestine,
which delivers health and medical care to those “worst affected by conflict,
occupation and displacement,” and the Lajee Centre, a cultural and sports
project for children in Aida refugee camp, in Bethlehem.
The group used
#matchthefineforpalestine to head the campaign.
The appeal read: "We,
the Green Brigade, are the passionate Ultra fans of Celtic Football Club,
Scotland’s most famous and successful football team. At the Champions League
match with Hapoel Beer Sheva on 17 August 2016, the Green Brigade and fans
throughout Celtic Park flew the flag for Palestine.
"This act of
solidarity has earned our club respect and acclaim throughout the world. It has
also attracted a disciplinary charge from UEFA, which deems the Palestinian
flag to be an ‘illicit banner’
"In response to this
petty and politically partisan act by European football’s governing body, we
are determined to make a positive contribution to the game and today launch a
campaign to #matchthefineforpalestine.
"We aim to raise
£75,000 which will be split equally between Medical Aid Palestine (MAP) and the
Lajee Centre, a Palestinian cultural centre in Aida Refugee Camp on the
outskirts of Bethlehem. From our members’ experiences as volunteers in
Palestine we know the huge importance of both organisations’ work and have
developed close contacts with them.
In just 24 hours, donations
amassed £77,000 and the target was raised to £80,000.
The statement also said the
money raised would help buy football kits and equipment to enable the refugee
camp to have a team, which would be called Aida Celtic, in the Bethlehem youth
league.
Despite Celtic facing their
ninth UEFA punishment for supporter behaviour in five years, many have praised
the Green Brigade for their actions, including Martin Milligan, a Celtic fan,
who told Glasgow Live: "We took a stand last night because we had to.
"This was an Israeli
team, one whose town is built on occupied Palestinian land.
"They were allowed to
travel here freely for the game. Israeli football clubs can go anywhere they
want, from Israel to any country in the world. That freedom of movement is not
shared with Palestinian teams and players, who have restrictions imposed on
them.
"There have been
numerous incidents in recent years where that has happened."
Celtic travel to Beersheba
for the second-leg of the tie on Tuesday, though supporters have been warned
similar actions will not be tolerated at the 16,126-capacity Turner Stadium.
Israeli police spokesman
Chief Inspector Micky Rosenfeld said: “Obviously it won’t be allowed – that is
for sure. The flags would of course be taken off them. This is a professional football
game and not a political opportunity."
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