Aida Celtic | How a UEFA Fine Sparked the Formation of a Football Academy for Refugees
August 17th, 2016: The sun slowly began to set over Celtic Park as Brendan Rodgers’ men took to the pitch, hoping to edge one step closer to Champions League qualification. As this was his first season in charge of the Celts, Rodgers was determined to ensure that his side progressed to the Group Stages of Europe’s most prestigious club competition.
Rodgers wasn’t the only new arrival at Celtic Park in the Summer of 2016. There was a very important new addition in the stands of Parkhead. The 2016/17 Season would see the introduction of a ‘safe standing’ section in the stadium. Housing Celtic’s Ultras Group, the ‘Green Brigade’. The aim of this section was to provide like-minded, passionate supporters with the chance to stand together and support their team in a safe environment.
Formed in 2006, the Green Brigade slowly but very surely developed their own unique style of support as well as a very certain political identity. Coupling a left-wing outlook with a traditional Irish nationalist identity, the group often displays their take on political and societal issues.
Celtic v Hapoel Be’er Sheva 2016
The Champions League qualifying game in August 2016 vs Israeli outfit Hapoel Be’er Sheva however provided the group with a very unique opportunity. Since its formation in 2006, the Green Brigade had always shown solidarity and support for the people of Palestine. Over the years, there had been banners, flags and other displays of support for the Palestinian plight. The game versus Be’er Sheva however would provide the stage for a much larger-scale action.
This wasn’t the first time that Celtic had faced an Israeli side since the Green Brigade’s inception. 2009 saw Celtic come up against Hapoel Tel Aviv in the Europa League. Whilst there were Palestine flags present in Celtic Park, there was no large-scale display on the night. The reasons for this were complex.
Perhaps the lack of action in 2009 was an extra motive for the group in 2016 when it was announced that Celtic would be facing Israel's Hapoel Be’er Sheva. Prior to the game, there were whispers and rumours regarding a potential pro-Palestine display. Celtic themselves contacted the group regarding any proposed action, possibly preempting a UEFA fine.
On the night itself, there were two displays. Before kick off, the Green Brigade displayed a ‘TIFO’ in their corner of the stadium. Depicting manager Brendan Rodgers as a poker player, with the words ‘Let’s go all in’, the TIFO was very much a show of support for the events on the pitch that night.
The Green Brigade’s TIFO prior to kick-off | Photo Credit
Shortly after the whistle signalled the start of play, the Green Brigade proceeded with their second action of the night and this display went beyond what was happening on the pitch. Almost in the blink of an eye, the North Curve of Celtic Park was flooded in the black, white, green and red of the Palestinian flag. This show of solidarity would continue throughout the 90 minutes, with group members waving the Palestinian flag as well as a banner depicting the Green Brigade’s trademark skull dressed in the keffiyeh, a symbol of Palestinian nationalism.
When deciding to carry out this action, the group would have been acutely aware of the possible UEFA sanctions the club would face. In fact, the club had already faced charges for the Green Brigade’s support of the Palestinian struggle. Two years prior to the events of August 2016, the club was fined after the group waved Palestine flags during a game vs KR Reykjavik.
Celtic Fans during a Champions League Qualifier against Hapoel Be’er Sheva | Photo Credit
Match the Fine for Palestine
As expected, UEFA issued the club a €10,000 fine, stating that the flag of Palestine is an ‘illicit banner’. The group were in hot water, but something extraordinary was to follow.
In the wake of the UEFA fine, the group decided to launch a fundraiser for both Medical Aid Palestine and the Lajee Center, a cultural and sports project for children in the Aida Refugee Camp (Bethlehem).
Named ‘#MatchTheFineForPalestine’, the goal of the fundraising drive was clear. Perceiving the UEFA Fine as unjust, the Green Brigade planned to use the (predominantly negative) media spotlight on the group as an opportunity to do good. Almost immediately, the donations poured in. In total, it is estimated that the group raised in excess of £175,000 for the two Palestinian charities. The support the group had shown was strongly felt in the Aida Camp and all across the West Bank. In the weeks following the Be’er Sheva game, incredible video footage emerged of Palestinian families expressing their gratitude for the Green Brigade’s support.
The game in August 2016 was not an isolated incident, rather the culmination of years of support. That said, it did feel as though the group’s support of the Palestinian struggle had taken on a new significance after the events in the stadium and the ‘#MatchTheFine’ campaign.
Aida Celtic
The Green Brigade’s relationship with the Lajee Center predated the events of August 2016 but the relationship would become even firmer after this milestone. This continued relationship would ultimately result in the formation of Aida Celtic, a football academy in the Aida Camp.
Officially launched in 2019, the core goal of Aida Celtic may sound simple: To provide young Palestinian refugee footballers with a fully equipped and financed setup, where they can enjoy the beautiful game. Life in the West Bank however is far from simple and something as basic as having a space to play football can provide a fantastic outlet from the daily struggle. Like amateur setups all across the world, the club is made up of both underage and senior teams.
Aida Celtic Senior Squad | Photo Credit
What will ultimately be a key determinant in the success of the club is it’s support network. This network includes high-street fashion brand anon* (A Number of Names) who fully sponsored the first run of Aida Celtic shirts. The project has also benefited from contributions from several celebrity figures, some of whom have preferred to remain anonymous. Similar to the fundraiser in 2016, the club also benefits from donations from Celtic fans and Palestinian supporters from across the globe.
This coming Summer, it had been planned to bring Aida Celtic to the UK on a cultural and sports tour. In light of the breakout of covid-19, the tour had to be postponed. This however won’t stop the Celtic support of the club and of the Palestinian plight in general. The academy is very much in its infancy but the founders have big plans.
Over the next few seasons, we will undoubtedly see more political messages displayed in the standing section of Celtic Park. Whether or not, we’ll see something quite as catalytic as the events of August 2016 however, it is hard to say