Key Points
- Celtic Fans Collective has criticised Celtic FC after Liverpool fan media outlet The Anfield Wrap was given access to interview Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at Lennoxtown while Celtic fan media remains banned.
- The group said the decision shows “contempt” for fan media and supporters, and called for clarification on why the club has allowed one outlet access but continued the prohibition on Celtic fan media.
- The ban on Celtic fan media began after two outlets, including The Celtic Star, were told not to attend a media conference at Lennoxtown while the club said it was “reviewing” access.
- The Celtic Star said the original issue arose when fan media asked questions about the summer transfer window during Brendan Rodgers’ time as manager.
- The latest criticism centres on what supporters see as inconsistency in Celtic’s media policy, with fan media for another club permitted access while Celtic’s own independent fan outlets remain excluded.
Celtic FC (Glasgow Express) May 8, 2026 is under renewed scrutiny after allowing Liverpool fan media access to a Celtic player while its ban on Celtic fan media continues, according to the Celtic Fans Collective and The Celtic Star. The row has widened because supporters say the club has not explained why access can be granted in one case but withheld in another.
As reported by the Celtic Fans Collective and reproduced by The Celtic Star, the group argued that fan media “matters” and said Celtic “knows this”, adding that Liverpool’s fan media had interviewed Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at Lennoxtown while Celtic fan media remained banned. The comments frame the issue as one of fairness, transparency and communication rather than a single access dispute.
What did the supporters’ group say?
The Celtic Fans Collective said Celtic’s decision was “tone deaf” or “deliberately provocative”, according to The Celtic Star’s coverage of the reaction. It also said the club’s approach required clarification because fan media had been left outside while a rival club’s fan outlet was allowed in.
The group’s criticism is focused on the principle of access rather than the specific player interview itself. Its argument is that if Celtic can host one fan media platform, the club should explain why its own fan-run outlets are still excluded.
How did the ban start?
The ban was imposed when two fan media sites, including The Celtic Star, were told not to attend a media conference with the manager at Lennoxtown because the club had decided to “review” fan media access.
At that time, Brendan Rodgers was manager, and the outlets say they were simply asking questions about the summer transfer window.
The Celtic Star has since argued that the ban was not linked to misconduct, but to the club’s discomfort with certain questions being asked.
In its own coverage, the outlet said the fan media did not do anything wrong and claimed the ban was designed to avoid uncomfortable scrutiny.
Who are the main voices in the story?
The main voices in the current row are the Celtic Fans Collective and The Celtic Star, both of which have taken a critical stance towards Celtic’s handling of access.
Their reporting and statements emphasise that the club’s position remains unclear and that the ban has continued indefinitely.
The articles also refer to Celtic chief executive Michael Nicholson, who is named in the criticism over the decision to allow Liverpool fan media access while Celtic fan media is still blocked.
No direct response from Celtic was included in the material provided in these reports.
What does this mean for Celtic’s media policy?
The dispute suggests that Celtic’s media policy is now being judged not only on access decisions, but also on consistency and transparency.
Supporters and fan-run outlets appear to be asking whether the club is prepared to set out clear rules for fan media or whether access will remain selective.
The wider concern is that the issue could deepen tensions between the club and sections of its support.
The material available shows criticism building around the idea that fan media is being treated differently depending on the subject, the outlet and the questions being asked.
Background of the development
Fan media has become a major part of football coverage, especially at clubs with large supporter bases such as Celtic.
Independent fan outlets often cover press conferences, training-ground access, transfer issues and supporter views, which can bring them into conflict with clubs when access is restricted.
In this case, the dispute appears to have started after questions about the summer transfer window during Brendan Rodgers’ period as manager, followed by a review of fan media access and then an indefinite ban.
The recent row over Liverpool fan media being allowed in at Lennoxtown has revived that earlier dispute and made it a fresh issue among supporters.
What may happen next?
If Celtic does not explain its approach, the argument is likely to continue as a public relations issue among supporters who want clearer rules.
For Celtic fans and fan media creators, the immediate effect may be further frustration, reduced access and a stronger sense that the club is controlling who gets to ask questions.
For the wider audience of Celtic supporters, the development could affect trust in how information is shared around the club and how openly it deals with scrutiny. If the ban remains in place, the dispute may stay active in fan channels and continue to shape how supporters view the club’s relationship with its own media ecosystem.
