- Celtic football club faces intense pressure from fans and the PACBI advocacy group to cancel a £2 million deal for Jocelin Ta Bi from ‘Israeli’ club Maccabi Netanya.
- Critics cite the ownership’s links to a military drone manufacturer supplying the ‘Israeli’ military.
Celtic Football Club is facing significant backlash from its supporters and pro-Palestinian advocacy groups over a proposed £2 million transfer deal for Ivorian winger Jocelin Ta Bi from ‘Israeli’ club Maccabi Netanya.
Reports indicate that the 20-year-old player, currently on loan at Hapoel Petah Tikva, has undergone a medical in Glasgow and described the move as a “dream come true,” while expressing gratitude for his time in ‘Israel’.
The controversy stems from Maccabi Netanya’s ownership by Aliya Capital Partners, which has invested approximately $30 million in XTEND, an ‘Israeli’ drone manufacturer supplying armed drones to the ‘Israeli’ military during its assault on Gaza.
Critics argue that any financial dealings with the club would indirectly support ‘Israel’s’ human rights abuses, including the destruction of Palestinian sporting infrastructure and the deaths of over 800 sportspeople in the region.
Pro-Palestinian organizations, such as the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), a key component of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, have directly contacted Celtic’s board to demand the deal’s cancellation.
They contend that ‘Israeli’ football clubs are not neutral entities and that proceeding would betray Celtic’s historical ethos, rooted in solidarity with oppressed communities, including parallels drawn between Irish colonial experiences and the Palestinian struggle.
Supporters have mobilized through various actions, including launching online petitions, social media campaigns, and displaying banners outside Celtic Park reading “Don’t spend our money in Apartheid Israel.”
Celtic’s fanbase, particularly the Green Brigade ultras, has a longstanding tradition of pro-Palestinian activism, featuring stadium displays that have drawn UEFA sanctions and raised funds for initiatives like Lajee Celtic in the Aida Refugee Camp.
