More than 6,000 Celtic fans have raised nearly £110,000 in just two days in response to a UEFA fine for waving Palestine flags.
Celtic fans have raised over £100,000 for charities supporting Palestine after the Scottish football club was fined by UEFA for displaying Palestine flags at last week’s match against Israeli club Hapoel Beer Sheva.
UEFA deem the Palestine flag an “illicit banner” thus Celtic FC face a £15,000 charge when their case is heard on 22nd September.
Members of the Green Brigade, a politically active and passionately loyal section of Celtic’s fan base, set up a Go Fund Me page on Sunday. Within hours it had attracted tens of thousands in donations and is still being widely promoted on social media with the hashtag #matchthefineforpalestine.
The fundraising page describes UEFA’s decision as “petty and politically partisan” and states: “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.”
5Pillars contacted UEFA for their response to the Green Brigade’s comments but received no reply at time of publication.
In response to the Green Brigade’s campaign MAP released the following: “Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) are delighted by the generosity of Celtic FC fans and all those who have donated to the #MatchTheFineForPalestine crowd-funding campaign.
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“They have transformed their passion into a genuine force for good, raising over £100,000 in less than two days for MAP and the Lajee Center in Bethlehem”.
MAP also mentioned the significance of the timing of Celtic fans’ campaign.
“This initiative comes in the same week as we mark the two-year anniversary of the ceasefire which ended Israel’s devastating 51-day assault on Gaza in 2014. More than 2,000 Palestinians were killed – including 556 children – and approximately 11,000 were injured.
“Palestinians in Gaza are still struggling to recover from the attacks and reconstruction continues to be undermined by the ongoing nine year blockade and closure.
“The money raised for MAP through #MatchTheFineForPalestine will directly support our health and medical care projects benefitting Palestinians living under occupation in the West Bank and Gaza, and as refugees in Lebanon.
“We would like to thank the organisers and every supporter for helping our vital work.”
Celtic will tonight play Hapoel Beer Sheva in a second-leg Champions League qualifier in Israel. The Israeli’s were beaten 5-2 by the Scottish side last week. Some 250 Celtic fans are expected to be at the match and Israeli police have warned them not to engage in any “unnecessary provocative behaviour”.
Speaking to the Daily Record about the act of solidarity promised by some Celtic fans, Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld harshly stated Israel’s intended intolerance: “Obviously it won’t be allowed – that is for sure. The flags would of course be taken off them.”
Celtic FC fans have a history of supporting the politically vulnerable. The club was formed in 1887 in Glasgow to support Irish immigrants fleeing famine and dispossession of land under the British occupation. Other causes supported by fans have included ending apartheid in South Africa and fighting the persecution of Irish nationalists.
Describing how they set up in 2006, the Green Brigade state on their website: “With the proud and unique history of Celtic, with the special values and ethos ingrained within… Celtic support had always maintained a left-leaning reputation: racism and discrimination would not be tolerated and you’d often see shows of solidarity with causes from Ireland to Palestine. As such, the Green Brigade being an anti-fascist group was fairly natural.”
