It’s the kind of decision that leaves you shaking your head in disbelief. Celtic, a club steeped in tradition and pride, has somehow found itself dabbling in the absurd with this latest merchandising move—a virtual slice of the pitch. Not an actual patch of turf you can cradle in your hands or stick in a glass case, but a pixelated square on a computer screen, yours for the princely sum of £29.99 a year or, for those willing to stretch their incredulity further, £49.99 for three years.
This is, undoubtedly, the footballing equivalent of selling deeds to a plot of land on the moon. It’s meaningless, intangible, and frankly, an insult to fans who are already digging deep into their pockets for match tickets, jerseys, and scarves—not to mention the energy spent travelling to away days or showing up for midweek fixtures in freezing December temperatures.
The announcement landed with all the grace of a missed sitter. Social media erupted, as you’d expect, with fans ranging from bewildered to outraged. The comments beneath the unveiling post were a gallery of horror and sarcasm: “Who’s buying this?” was the general tone. The idea of unwrapping such a ‘gift’ on Christmas morning—hoping for a new strip, perhaps, or tickets for a game—only to discover you now own an imaginary slice of Celtic Park, is almost comical. Almost.
