Brendan Rodgers says Celtic and Israel winger Liel Abada has support of fans despite planned pro-Palestine display

Celtic fans are preparing a pro-Palestine display next week; Brendan Rodgers says Celtic's Israeli winger Liel Abada has the support from the supporters and everyone at the club; watch Hearts vs Celtic live on Sky Sports Football this Sunday from 2pm; kick-off 2.15pm

Friday 20 October 2023 15:53, UK

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Brendan Rodgers says Israeli winger Liel Abada will have the support of the Celtic fans despite a pro-Palestinian display being prepared by some of the club's supporters next week.

Celtic fan group 'The Green Brigade' released a statement this week urging supporters to get behind a 'Fly the Flag for Palestine' display at next week's Champions League match at home to Atletico Madrid.

Celtic have distanced themselves from the move, saying they «condemn the display of such messages at Celtic Park» — and Rodgers says that the club's supporters will continue to support winger Abada following widespread violence in Israel and Gaza in recent weeks.

«Liel knows that everyone here is supportive of him,» Rodgers told Sky Sports on Friday. «Any Celtic fan I've known over the years has always supported the Celtic player. So he knows he has that. He's had conversations with the board and everyone else.

»It's a really divisive subject and of course it's not something that as a father or a parent, you want to see: killings on whichever side it is. But clearly, it is something that sits beyond a football manager.

«But for us and Liel, he knows he has the support here of everyone: supporters and everyone working within the club.

»As you can imagine, it's a really traumatic time for everyone looking at it. When you watch the scenes, it is very harrowing and of course if you're close