Green Brigade announces Celtic cup boycott amid board dispute

The Green Brigade has announced a boycott of Celtic's Scottish Cup matches and home European fixtures as its dispute with the club's board intensifies. BBC Sport reported that the ultras group accused those running Celtic of becoming increasingly disconnected from supporters, with its statement directing particular criticism at the influence of largest shareholder Dermot Desmond.

Watch the highlights:

The group will withdraw from Celtic's Home Cup Ticket Scheme, according to a Glasgow Times report carried by Yahoo Sports. Its members plan to miss the remaining Europa League home matches and every Scottish Cup tie, whether played at home, away or at Hampden. League fixtures are excluded, and the position will be reviewed at the season's end or sooner if sufficient progress is made.

The announcement follows a protest directed at Desmond during the Alfred Dunhill Links golf tournament in St Andrews. BBC Sport reported that the incident involved tennis balls being thrown. Celtic subsequently threatened indefinite bans for anyone found to have organised, helped facilitate or taken part in the protest.

The Green Brigade denied that its members were involved in the St Andrews incident, while expressing approval of those responsible. It characterised Celtic's response as a further attack on supporters. The club has also stopped recognising the Celtic Fans Collective as a representative body; that organisation brings together supporter groups and includes the Green Brigade.

In the statement reproduced by the Glasgow Times, the group cited restrictions on displays, difficulties surrounding the standing section, the threat of bans and what it described as a failure to engage meaningfully. These were presented as the group's grievances, with the Green Brigade arguing that the conditions prevented it from providing the organised support it exists to deliver.

The group said the boycott reflected its own principles rather than an attempt to pressure other supporters or organisations into following it. It also reaffirmed its commitment to the Celtic Fans Collective and to those seeking changes at the club.