A general view inside the stadium before the UEFA Europa League league-stage football match between Celtic and FC Utrecht at Celtic Park in Glasgow on January 29, 2026. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP via Getty Images)
Celtic Park was a pale shadow of its old self last night as the hoops beat Utrecht 4-2 in the Europa League.
While the club still peddles the myth of those magical European nights under the floodlights the reality is very different.
Once again the pocket of away fans created almost all of the noise and atmosphere.
There are a variety of reasons for the flatness at Celtic Park.
Twelve months ago it felt very different when YB Berne lost out 1-0 to a late goal in the Champions League.
CELTIC CUT DEEP
On the pitch Celtic had Kyogo Furuhashi, Nicolas Kuhn and Adam Idah, off it the Green Brigade were giving it heart and soul for 90 minutes plus.
Michael Nicholson has chosen to remove them one by one. The bank balance has swelled, the team has been decimated and the atmosphere destroyed.
End the bans ASAP @CelticFC The place is a morgue without them. pic.twitter.com/pSCAIUCgYH
— Celtic De Glasgow ? (@celticdeglasgow) January 30, 2026
Celtic are a PR disaster,atmosphere was abysmal last night,they have sucked the life right out of the average joe fan like myself,their dispute with the GB is having a detrimental effect on everyone players included with no sign of anyone trying to resolve it?a complete mess
— John carberry (@Johncarberry9) January 30, 2026
A 3-0 lead after 20 minutes in a European match ought to be the the cue for lift off.
You’d expect the celebrating fans to push the team on for more, 5-0 at half time wouldn’t be unrealistic.
Instead Utrecht scored in the 44th minute. It took a full length save from Kasper Schmeichel to prevent the Dutch side from scoring a second.
At the start of November Celtic suspended the Green Brigade.
The lively corner of the stadium that spread the noise and atmosphere. Based on a grainy video showing nothing in particular 300 fans had their Season Tickets suspended.
GREEN BRIGADE BAN
With the Green Brigade banned the true extent of the Celtic support has been revealed.
Most Season Ticket holders have held their ticket for 20 years, many are pushing towards 30 years. They are not in the first, or even second flush of youth.
They aren’t the type to jump up and shout. That’s life. Fans in their twenties are livelier and more animated than those in their forties and fifties.
Interim Chairman Brian Wilson called for unity among the fans to back Martin O’Neill in his return as manager.
He has done nothing to follow that up. Twenty five days since that call Wilson has yet to find a time to meet with the Celtic Fans Collective.
Utrecht fans chanted ‘Celtic, Celtic give us a song’.
On Sunday Celtic host Falkirk. Around 40,000 fans will turn up to watch, mainly in silence.
In the next 10 weeks Celtic will be sending out their Season Ticket Renewal email. Usually signed off by the manager with a 5% price increase.
Times have changed…
The days of CP creating its own atmosphere are a thing of the past…
The atmosphere now relies on the GB & anyone saying it doesn’t is kidding themselves.
This is another mess that the board have to clear up ASAP!
It’s simple…
WE NEED THEM BACK IN!? pic.twitter.com/mNjKYbOmto
— TheHoops?????????? (@67_Celtic_1888) January 30, 2026
Bhoys Celtic being left to create an atmosphere in Celtic Park because the board won’t lift the Green Brigade ban and most fans don’t bother their arses to help create some noise
Celtic Park is in dire need of The Celtic End and to think some people are against it is insane pic.twitter.com/1AfrGsGEHM
— Ronan ? (@Ronan__CFC) January 29, 2026
Was at the game – I’m no fan of the G.B. political views but 100% a huge void last night in the support – they are sorely missed.
I’m no fan of your political views, what’s the relevance?, see how that works?.
I’m a celtic da I support the Green Brigade.
I was in the old jungle we where much worse.
Not
Another
Penny.
You’d think that MN and Wilson will have to break cover and engage with the support,
before the ST renewal notices go out?
They’ll probably make ‘promises’ about doing better in the summer window…! 🙁
Renewals should be held back as long as possible to see what this useless board do to improve matters on the field and off it,me personally I think the mythical 10 to 15 thousand waiting list is a false scare tactic.
Bye Bye to Buy Buy when it comes to Celtic these days !
Not to worry Joe we’ll be welcoming back and rolling out the red carpet for them lowlife union bear scum bastards and their song book post split fixture and our own will be still locked out, Celtic board are a disgrace.
Editor: And again in August/September next season. Nicholson in his element, toe tapping along.