The Green Brigade issued a statement on Friday confirming they remain banned ahead of Celtic’s Premiership clash with Dundee United at Celtic Park on Saturday, with off-field tensions continuing to overshadow events on the pitch.
The fixture arrives amid growing focus on the atmosphere around the stadium, as the ongoing dispute between sections of the support and the club’s hierarchy shows no sign of resolution.
Celtic’s most prominent supporter group has remained absent despite recent public appeals for calm and unity, an absence that many feel has been noticeable during a challenging period for the club.
Interim chairman Brian Wilson recently spoke about the importance of unity inside Celtic Park, comments that were followed by an open letter from the Celtic Fans Collective calling for dialogue and a reset in relations between supporters and the board. However, the Green Brigade have stated that no discussions have taken place and that their ban will still be enforced for Saturday’s match.
In their statement, the group outlined their frustration and sought to clarify their position ahead of the Dundee United game, underlining just how strained the situation remains despite public calls for togetherness.
For many supporters, the lack of meaningful engagement is now becoming as significant an issue as performances and results.
Celtic’s season has been marked by instability, including managerial changes and uncertainty at board level, which has only added to supporter unrest. Concerns about a breakdown in communication have grown louder, with the Green Brigade ban increasingly seen as symbolic of a wider disconnect between fans and the club.
What began as a disciplinary matter has developed into a broader debate around supporter representation, transparency, and trust.
With no indication that talks will resume before kick-off, the issue remains unresolved. While attention will be on the action on the pitch, the situation in the stands continues to shape the wider narrative at Celtic Park.
As Celtic aim to steady their season, questions persist over how unity can truly be achieved without dialogue. Saturday’s match against Dundee United is important on sporting grounds, with pressure on the team to deliver at home, but many believe the ongoing absence of the Green Brigade continues to affect the matchday atmosphere.
For others, resolving the dispute would represent a clear signal that the club is serious about repairing relationships with its support.
Celtic injury and selection update: O’Neill addresses Jota, Iheanacho and Johnston calls
Martin O’Neill has returned to the Celtic dugout without the benefit of a fully firing squad.
It is little surprise, then, that the interim boss is pushing for swift action in the January transfer window — a stance previously echoed by Brendan Rodgers. Across the last three windows, Celtic have been stripped of significant attacking output with the departures of Nicolas Kühn, Kyogo Furuhashi and Matt O’Riley, leaving a sizeable gap in goals and creativity.
Replacing that production has proven difficult. Summer arrivals Jota and Kelechi Iheanacho have yet to make the desired impact, largely due to persistent injury problems, while the squad has lacked depth at key moments.
O’Neill would dearly welcome the return of both players, along with Alistair Johnston, as he prepares for his first match back in interim charge against Dundee United. Speaking ahead of the fixture, he offered an update on their progress as Celtic look to reassert themselves in a tightening title race.
Since Jota last featured competitively for Celtic, the club have gone through three managerial changes. Iheanacho, meanwhile, managed just a single appearance under Wilfried Nancy before being withdrawn in the first half of the Premier Sports Cup final against St Mirren.
Providing an update on Iheanacho and Johnston, O’Neill said:
“It shouldn’t be too long now for both of them. They’ve been on the grass. They’re training on their own at the moment and aren’t too far away.”
Jota’s return, however, remains further off. The Portuguese winger has not played since sustaining a serious injury against Dundee United in April last season.
“Funnily enough, I was speaking to him at lunchtime,” O’Neill added. “He’s still a fair distance away.”
In terms of selection, Liam Scales appears the most likely to return to the starting XI after being dropped under Nancy, while Anthony Ralston could face increased competition following the arrival of Julian Araujo, especially after struggling in a wide centre-back role.
There is better news out wide, with Sebastian Tounekti and Michel-Ange Balikwisha back from AFCON duty, strengthening Celtic’s attacking options. If either is handed a start, Daizen Maeda could be shifted centrally in place of Johnny Kenny.
For O’Neill, the hope is that reinforcements — both from the treatment room and the transfer market — arrive soon enough to steady a side no longer accustomed to cruising through domestic fixtures.
Leave a Reply