CELTIC fan group the Green Brigade slammed the club and labelled them cowards today, accusing them taking a “side with the oppressor” for taking down the Palestinian flags raised in solidarity with the people of Palestine.

Celtic Park was open to allow fans to leave messages to outgoing captain Scott Brown who played his last home match for the club last night against St Johnstone.

Instead, the ultras situated in the North Curve corner section of the stadium hung flags to raise awareness of the atrocities taking place in Palestine and the number of Palestinians who have died as a result of Israeli air strikes over the past few days.

The club branded the showing of solidarity as taking “advantage of an occasion intended for our club captain.” But the fan group hit back, pointing out that the retaliation of the club “is an affront to the founding ethos of our club.”

The Green Brigade released a statement saying: “This morning the Green Brigade set up two small tributes for two issues close to the hearts of Celtic supporters.

“First we paid tribute to departing Celtic captain, Scott Brown. Unable to give Scott the send-off he deserves tonight, we left a banner to mark his final match at Celtic Park. The ‘Brown 8’ banner not only honours Brown but reflects a special, charity, tribute T-shirt being sold by North Curve Celtic, with proceeds supporting the Hospital for Children, Glasgow. Around £7,000 has been raised to date.

“Second, we displayed a legitimate flag which has been proudly flown by Celtic fans for generations. We are disappointed, though sadly not surprised, that the flag of Palestine causes distress for Celtic plc. 

“While we view flying the Palestinian flag as an act of humanity and solidarity, the removal and censorship of the flag demonstrates how far our current board have strayed from the values of Celtic Football Club. To remain neutral on hideous and violent acts of oppression is to side with the oppressor, which is an affront to the founding ethos of our club.

“Finally, we left a banner in tribute to our friend and Celtic supporter Salah Ajarma, who tragically died last month. A frequent visitor to Glasgow and Celtic Park, Salah met Scott Brown in 2012 when he brought a group of Palestinian refugees, and their flags, to Celtic Park.

“The Celtic plc statement was deliberately misleading and crass. Its absence from any social media platform proves the cowardice of those responsible for it. We are confident that the Celtic support will continue to stand with the people of Palestine. Although we are unwelcome to do so at Celtic Park, we encourage all to join your local solidarity demonstration.”

Celtic’s statement read: “We had invited supporters to pay tribute to our club captain, Scott Brown, by giving them the opportunity to display their own banners in the stadium.

“Unfortunately a small group, which was given access in good faith, has attempted to exploit this opportunity, taken advantage of an occasion intended for our club captain, Scott Brown, and used it for a different purpose.

“Clearly this is unacceptable and the display was immediately taken down by the club.”