Latest news with #Brendan'Bik'McFarlane
Daily Record
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Green Brigade defy 'out of touch' Celtic board over tifo ban as ultras unleash on ticket price hike
The fan group have been at odds with the club powerbrokers in recent months The Green Brigade have taken aim at Celtic chiefs as the ultras group branded them "out of touch" during the clash with Hibs. The fan group have been at odds with the board since unveiling a 'Show Israel the Red Card' display during the Champions League showdown with Bayern Munich. They followed up by a produced a controversial tribute to convicted IRA killer Brendan 'Bik' McFarlane before a match against Aberdeen. Since then, the club have taken the step to approve any tifos unveiled by the ultras group. Going into the clash with Hibs the Green Brigade have revealed that an attempt to display a banner has been knocked back by the Premiership champions' powerbrokers. But they would defy the supremos - as they took aim at season ticket prices with a massive banner. Adult season ticket prices for next season are priced at £608 - with a rise of between five per cent and eight per cent across the board for the Parkhead diehards. The banner read: "Fairer deal for fans - Celtic PLC: Always out of touch, never out of pocket.' In a statement released on Friday night, the Green Brigade said: "Unfortunately, the club has refused tomorrow's NCC tifo. "This is a continued sanction due to the Green Brigade's 'Red Card' and Bik McFarlane tifos. "Despite repeated attempts, the club has refused to meet with the Green Brigade since November 2023." UEFA did not take action against the Hoops for the banner displayed while on European duty while the tribute to McFarlane sparked a police probe. You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here.
Daily Record
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Green Brigade call out Celtic board for hardline Hibs tifo stance as 2 reasons issued for ultras roadblock
The fan group have vented online after their banner for the clash with David Gray's men was turned down The Green Brigade have claimed Celtic chiefs have "refused" meetings with them as the club upheld a ban on tifos from the ultras. The fan group made headlines earlier this season with a 'Show Israel the Red Card' display during the Champions League showdown with Bayern Munich. They also produced a controversial tribute to convicted IRA killer Brendan 'Bik' McFarlane before a match against Aberdeen. And going into the clash with Hibs on Saturday, they have revealed that an attempt to display a banner has been knocked back by the Premiership champions' powerbrokers. The group posted to X "Unfortunately, the club has refused tomorrow's NCC tifo. "This is a continued sanction due to the Green Brigade's 'Red Card' and Bik McFarlane tifos. "Despite repeated attempts, the club has refused to meet with the Green Brigade since November 2023." A Celtic email shared by the group read: "Unfortunately, following the club's review of events and relevant processes from earlier this season, which has concluded that there have been serious breaches of the Banner Protocol by the group, the club does not approve the request to set up and display a tifo at tomorrow's match. "The club therefore requests that the group does not bring any tifo or other banners to the stadium for the match, as access will not be provided at any time prior to or during the match. "The club also requests that the group complies with club regulations and protocols, and safety and competition regulations, at the match, including the prohibition on the use of any pyrotechnics. "The club remains open to scheduling a meeting to discuss these matters at a future time." UEFA did not take action against the Hoops for the banner displayed while on European duty while the tribute to McFarlane sparked a police probe. Follow Record Sport on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-the minute breaking news, video and audio on the SPFL, the Scotland national team and beyond. You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Call for Celtic to take action over IRA banner
A Democratic Unionist Party MP has called on Celtic Football Club to take action against fans who held up a banner commemorating a former IRA man at a match this week. The banner was unfurled at Celtic Park ahead of Tuesday's Scottish Premiership match against Aberdeen. It paid tribute to Brendan 'Bik' McFarlane, who died at the weekend, describing him as a "hero". McFarlane was jailed in 1976 for his part in a gun and bomb attack on Bayardo Bar in Belfast in which five people were killed. DUP MP Gregory Campbell tabled an early day motion at Westminster raising concern about the banner and calling on Celtic to take action against those responsible. Campbell said if the club failed to act it will lead to the "belief in wider society" that it is content to be associated with the tribute. On Friday, Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly expressed condolences following the "sad passing of my friend and comrade", adding he was a "huge figure within republicanism". Celtic Football Club have been approached for comment. During a Scottish Premiership game on Wednesday night, fans of Rangers Football Club held up a banner which described McFarlane as a "coward". Former IRA man 'Bik' McFarlane dies
BBC News
26-02-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Celtic FC: Call for club to take action over IRA Brendan McFarlane banner
A DUP MP has called on Celtic FC to take action against fans who held up a banner commemorating a former IRA man at a match this banner was unfurled at Celtic Park ahead of Tuesday's Scottish Premiership match against paid tribute to Brendan 'Bik' McFarlane, who died at the weekend, describing him as a "hero".McFarlane was jailed in 1976 for his part in a gun and bomb attack on Bayardo Bar in Belfast in which five people were killed. Gregory Campbell tabled an early day motion at Westminster raising concern about the banner and calling on Celtic to take action against those said if the club failed to act it will lead to the "belief in wider society" that it is content to be associated with the Friday, Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly expressed condolences following the "sad passing of my friend and comrade", adding he was a "huge figure within republicanism".
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Funeral to be held for former senior IRA man Brendan McFarlane
The funeral of former senior IRA man Brendan 'Bik' McFarlane is to be held. McFarlane, from the Ardoyne area of north Belfast, was known for taking part in the biggest escape in UK prison history. He died at the age of 74 after a short illness on Friday. Crowds, which included former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams, Donegal TD Pearse Doherty, Cavan Monaghan TD Matt Carthy and North Belfast MP John Finucane, gathered outside his family home off the Cliftonville Road for a burial service and blessing by priest Father Gary Donegan. Sinn Fein MLA Gerry Kelly is set to deliver a graveside oration at Milltown Cemetery later. The party's president Mary Lou McDonald described McFarlane as 'a giant of Irish republicanism'. He was sent to Maze Prison after being convicted of a deadly bomb attack on a pub in the Protestant Shankill Road area in 1975. McFarlane was the officer in command of the H-Block prisoners during the 1981 hunger strike over conditions in the Maze. He was among 38 IRA inmates who fled the Maze in Co Antrim in September 1983. They used smuggled guns and knives to overpower prison staff before hijacking a food lorry and driving to the main gate. He was later recaptured with fellow escapee Mr Kelly in the Netherlands.
