Post by @ajplus

10 years ago, Celtic fans were punished for standing with Palestine.nThis is how they rebelled:nOn Aug. 17, 2016, the Celtic Football Club played an Israeli club in a Champions League match in Glasgow.nCeltic fans filled the stadium with hundreds of Palestinian flags.nEurope's football association called the flags "illicit banners" and fined the club over $11,000.nIn response, the team's ultras - the Green Brigade - launched #MatchTheFineForPalestine.nThey raised over $230,000, more than 20 times the fine.nThey used the money to help establish a children's football club in a refugee camp in the occupied West Bank.nTheir club in the Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem now has over 80 children registered as players.nIn 2024, Celtic changed the the club's name from Aida Celtic to Lajee Celticnto reflect its growth beyond the camp and represent all Palestinian refugees.nCeltic fans have supported humanitarian causes for decades.nThe club was founded in 1887 by a Catholic priest to help Irish immigrants.nSince October 2023, Celtic supporters have repeatedly waved Palestinian flags and banners at Celtic Park.