A film about ‘the most politically conscious anywhere’ fans will centre on Celtic tonight.
The fact that it will be shown on Al Jazeera is another suggestion that it won’t be a middle of the road look into the fans that have returned the highest attendance figures in Scotland for the last 20 years.
It seems that the film hasn’t been endorsed by the club which allows it to delve into any area that it wishes rather than an agenda approved from inside the club.
With millions of fans around the globe, @CelticFC is one of the world’s most famous #football clubs. Its supporters are amongst the most politically conscious anywhere. This is their story. Tuesday at 22.30 on @AJEnglish @celtic @celticbible @aboutceltic #CelticFC #Celtic pic.twitter.com/gjdeZRL6vR
— Clover Films (@CloverFilmsUK) February 22, 2021
Ireland will be the obvious starting point for any film looking at the political side of the Celtic support, almost 130 years after being founded the links are still very obvious for any visitor to Celtic Park.
Over the last 30 years Celtic fans have developed links with St Pauli in Germany, a very left-wing club from the boardroom downwards. The two clubs played a friendly in July 2014 in Hamburg but St Pauli haven’t played at Celtic Park.
Celtic’s most recent brush with politics was in 2016 when the visit of Hapoel Be’er Sheva was greeted by hundreds of fans taking Palestine flags to the match. When UEFA fined Celtic £8,000 for the political acts of supporters £176,000 was raised worldwide to pay the fine with the balance spent of charities in Palestine.
Last season the UEFA spotlight was back on Celtic during their matches with Lazio which brought reaction from Alessandra Mussolini, the grand-daughter of Italy’s war-time leader.