John Hartson plays Celtic blame game in Green Brigade defence after AGM lightning rod sparks 'singled out' fear

Celtic hero John Hartson has mounted a defence for the Green Brigade following the club's AGM.

The Celtic ultras are at loggerheads with Parkhead chiefs after the club announced that anyone who belonged to the group - around 200 people - had their season tickets suspended for the foreseeable future. They said it was due to an “increasingly serious escalation in unacceptable behaviours and non-compliance with applicable regulations.”

Fingers have been pointed at the controversial fan group for the club racking up several UEFA sanctions over the years - but it remained a hot topic at the AGM with any mention of the Green Brigade being met with a mix of cheering and booing from the gathered crowd. But Celtic hero Hartson fears that both the club and supporters have been "singled out" with supporters of other side being branded "no angels."

He told Go Radio: "It looks like in a way that they are singling Celtic and the Green Brigade out. Yes, they have got their faults.

"Yes, they have cost Celtic a lot of money over the years in fines but also you have to look at other clubs - and I hope they are - because all the clubs will have good eggs and bad eggs. In terms of what they sing, how they act; I played in Scotland for five years and I have been at away grounds and heard what they say and what they are chanting.

"I just hope that Celtic are not the only club being looked at. I hope it is looked at across the board as other clubs fans are no angels either."