Celtic fans groups refuse invitation to talks over policing
Celtic fan banners protested against the board at Sunday's match away to Partick Thistle
- Published
Celtic fan groups have declined to meet the club over policing issues amid their ongoing attempt to force the removal of several key board members.
The Celtic Fans Collective, a new umbrella group, revealed several supporter groups had rejected an invitation to discuss the findings of a report into concerns over the policing of their home game with Rangers on 16 March.
Celtic appointed sports event safety management consultant Fairhurst to carry out an independent review of events leading up to the Scottish Premiership game.
Police secured stop-and-search powers under section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 to contain groups of fans ahead of the match.
They later said 90 had been reported to the Procurator Fiscal for non-compliance with the order, with fans having been asked to provide names and addresses in order to access the ground.
The Celtic Fans Collective revealed groups including the Affiliation of Registered Celtic Supporters Clubs, Bhoys Celtic, Celtic Supporters Association and the Green Brigade were invited to attend a meeting with the club over the policing of the game.
"After months of delay, the club is finally set to release the findings of the independent investigation," they said in a statement.
"In conjunction with the Celtic Fans Collective, the supporter groups have unanimously voted to decline this invitation.
"Until Celtic FC signals an intention to answer all of the questions raised in the open letter and begin to engage positively with the wider support, we have no confidence in meeting with the club under the current leadership."
The Celtic Fans Collective emerged on Saturday to carry forward supporters' attempts to force out chairman Peter Lawwell, chief executive Michael Nicholson and chief financial officer Chris McKay.
Their earlier open letter had demanded answers over the club's transfer strategy and other issues, such as police tactics.