Reports of Celtic fans being attacked in Madrid before Atletico match as Palestinian flags are raised at game
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Celtic fans hold up Palestinian flags during the UEFA Champions League Group E football match between Atletico Madrid and Celtic at Civitas Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, Spain on November 07, 2023. (Photo by Burak Akbulut/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Celtic fans claim they were attacked by hooligans in a bar in Madrid which saw another defiant show of Palestinian flags.
A Green Brigade banner was also on display in the away end at Atletico’s Metropolitano Stadium despite the group’s recent ban from attending matches.
Celtic have been stressing for weeks that “political messages and banners” were not welcome after “Free Palestine” and “Victory to the resistance” flags were initially held aloft.
Shortly before kick off for the entirely one-sided Champions League fixture, at least 10 Palestinian flags were once again held up. On a miserable night for the Scottish Premiership leaders, Celtic were eventually thumped 6-0 by a vastly superior Atletico side.
On the pitch and Celtic were heavily second-best, a fortnight after earning an entertaining draw against the Spanish side
Earlier, reports had emerged of tensions between supporters in Madrid – although there was no suggestion clashes were related to Palestinian protests.
Mark O’Donnell, 61, told the Glasgow Times he had been taken to hospital after rival fans stormed a pub in the Barrio of La Latina district.
O’Donnel said he was watching earlier fixtures on television with his two sons, Michael and Christy, when around 20 rival fans entered the premises. One of the attackers is alleged to have asked, “Are you Celtic?” before the group started throwing punches.
“I have cuts to my leg and hands, Christy has cuts to his head and Michael had cuts to his hand and received eight stitches,” he said. “Michael met another man in hospital older than me who was also attacked. He had been hit in the face with a bottle and had to have numerous stitches to his face.”
More than 3,300 Celtic fans had made the trip to Madrid for the encounter, which according to reports in Spain, had been deemed “high risk” by authorities.
Last week, Celtic had banned the Green Brigade from attending matches after the group defied the club’s stance on political gestures. The ultras group traditionally organises a tifo – a choreographed display involving a large banner or image – but has been waving Palestinian flags instead recently. The group had been handing out Palestinian flags, which were waved around Celtic Park for the previous 2-2 draw against Atletico.
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