Brendan Rodgers has praised the Green Brigade and described the atmosphere generated from section 111 as absolutely amazing.
The ultras fan group blotted their copybook with an inappropriate banner against Linfield but unlike some the hoops boss doesn’t want to throw the baby out with the bathwater.
That and other issues have resulted in a two match closure of the standing section imposed by the club and kicked off a massive online debate about the Green Brigade.
Rodgers looks like the man to broker a peace deal between the fans group and the club with no sign of anyone else that understands the complexities of the situation.
“I have been fortunate enough to be around some of the top football clubs in Britain and I can categorically say the atmosphere inside Celtic Park, not just by that section, by the 60,000 supporters is the best you will witness,” the Irishman told The Scotsman. “The guys in the corner add the energy and youthfulness which is absolutely amazing.
“The club have worked tirelessly over the years, the first club in Britain to put in a (safe) standing section and 99.9 per cent of the time they along with the rest of the fans give us this incredible support but the political element is not acceptable.
“There are forums, platform for that outside of football. Take that somewhere else. It is not for inside Celtic Park. It is not what the values are, the ethos is and it is certainly not what I’m about as a manager.
“I have huge admiration for the support they give but my honest feelings is that I’m not with it, I am very much aligned with the thinking of the board and the people that run the club, the people that have to pay the fines. That is my answer to it.”
Everyone in the standing section has received a letter explaining that they won’t be allowed into the matches against Rosenborg and Hearts which effects 900 fans.
Moussa Dembele and Erik Sviatchenko are both injury doubts for the game against Rosenborg who beat Dundalk 3-2 on aggregate in the previous round.