Celtic fans boo Remembrance Sunday tribute as minute's silence cut short

Celtic supporters loudly booed during the minute's silence held before their match against Kilmarnock at Celtic Park on Remembrance Sunday. With both sets of players gathered around the centre circle, the silence - conducted to remember those who lost their lives in wars - was ultimately cut short by referee Don Robertson after less than 15 seconds.

The jeers began before Robertson had even whistled to start the silence as the pre-match tannoy reminded supporters of the pre-match gesture. And after jeers and chants were heard once it began, Robertson blew his whistle again to signal a premature end of the minute's silence.

The match was not televised but BBC Radio Scotland commentator Rob McLean said: "It was a very brief minute's silence, it was a few seconds' silence. It was threatening to be disrupted, and Don Robertson decided to quit while he was ahead."

The Scottish Premiership club's fanbase similarly jeered during the Remembrance Day silence 12 months ago, also against Kilmarnock but on that occasion away from home at Rugby Park. The silence was also cut short on that day as Sky Sports apologised on air. Commentator Ian Crocker said: "Sorry if you were offended by the disturbance to the silence."

At that game, a banner from the Celtic away fans read: "From Balfour to Starmer, the crimes of the empire live on, Britain is committing genocide in Gaza."

A later statement from North Curve Celtic said: "Today, on Armistice Day, we highlight the hypocrisy and shame of the British establishment and others who selectively mourn the loss of life and fail to support an armistice to the ongoing genocide in Palestine."

While then-Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers, who has since left the Scottish champions after quitting last month, said: "I think if it's a minute silence, it should be a minute. You guys know the script up here at this time of the year. It's always a challenge. But if it's a minute silence, it's a minute silence. I think we all want to respect that. And we understand that some don't. So it can be a divisive one."

For the latest meeting between Celtic and Kilmarnock, the Hoops' famous Green Brigade fan group were banned from attending after the club accused ultras of preventing police from arresting someone who "assaulted a member of staff" at a match against Falkirk last month. The Green Brigade declared that any justification for the six-match ban was "disingenuous".

On the pitch, Celtic went 1-0 up against Killie through Johnny Kenny's opener in the 10th minute.

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