Brendan Rodgers blasts Celtic fans: “You're risking everything”

In the world of soccer, few things are held as sacrosanct as the relationship between the fans and their clubs. For Celtic, this is taken to an even deeper level. The supporters of the Scottish club have made the stands a show in themselves-color, song, and at times even pyrotechnics. Still, head coach Brendan Rodgers thinks there's a limit. Rodgers recently spoke to the media, and his words were very candid regarding the fans who would insist on fireworks and pyrotechnics at the matches, claiming it puts both the team and the sets of fans in danger.

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Rodgers' words came in the wake of Celtic being fined for firework incidents during their Champions League defeat to Borussia Dortmund. They now risk much heavier sanctions-the suspension of away fans from UEFA games-if these actions continue over the next two years. With an important trip to take on Atalanta, Rodgers' fear of that is becoming increasingly daunting.

When Passion turns to disrespect

Brendan Rodgers did not mince words as he tried to explain to the fans that pyrotechnic displays during their team's play did not demonstrate real love for the club: "If you continually do this, you're showing you don't really care. You don't care about the team, you don't care about the support, and you don't care about your club, because ultimately the club will get fined too," he asserted.

Here, Rodgers raises a very interesting point: where does the line between fan passion and disrespect for rules lie, not to speak of safety? For most people, flares and fireworks may be a passionate way of showing team support. However, as the coach said, it crosses the line from pure enthusiasm. They risk the security of other fans, run down the reputation of the club, and even put the experience of soccer in danger.

Soccer needs energy and vibrancy from the stands, but Rodgers has pointed out that Celtic does not need pyrotechnics to make the stadiums alive. What we bring to the stadium in terms of colour and noise is absolutely incredible," he said. To the coach, the fans already put on an amazing show, and acts like these only tarnish what is, essentially, one of the best fan bases in the world.

Fines, sanctions, and Celtic's future

Already, Celtic are having to deal with some of the fallout in the form of fines from UEFA. But what's hanging in the balance now is far more serious: if these pyrotechnic incidents continue, then a suspension of fan attendance at international matches could be imposed, certainly for away supporters. And that would mean, in practice, the loss of one of Celtic's greatest assets-their loyal traveling support.

One of the major warnings that Rodgers had was that of increased severity in the sanctions. He said once this small fraction of their fans keeps violating the rules, the price they would have to pay would not be restricted to the club alone but to those innocent fans as well. People who have supported Celtic at home and away for years and years should never be banned," Rodgers said, insisting that while such a level of support by fans was deeply valued by the club, it needed to fall within the responsibility ambit.

And that is the big question: how can fans maintain their intensity and unconditional support without crossing the line into irresponsibility? The answer, for Rodgers, is balance. "You're only thinking about yourself," he said straight to fans bringing fireworks into games. "You don't need this, and if you do, then do it outside the stadium."

Safety first

But at the end of the day, this is not just about Brendan Rodgers avoiding fines and UEFA sanctions. First and foremost, the coach cares for the safety of his fans. To some, lighting a flare in a jammed stadium could appear to be an innocuous act. However, real risks of fire, smoke inhalation, and crowd panic are also very serious. Added to which, it puts in danger the fan who is handling the fireworks.

Pyrotechnics in stadiums are not a problem only for Celtic. Quite a number of clubs in the world were exposed to that situation, and UEFA's sanctions have become tougher and tougher with every new season. Rodgers suggests that it's high time supporters understood that using fireworks in stadiums doesn't manifest support for your team but irresponsible behavior. He said, "You're showing you don't really care if you keep doing this," adding that these also did a disservice to the club itself.