Celtic supporters were facing the prospect of a live television black-out for the club’s Europa League match in the Czech Republic on Thursday afternoon with until this evening the only confirmed broadcast was from Celtic TV for viewers outside Britain and Ireland.
Now though BBC Scotland have confirmed that they will show the Europa League match live on Sportscene on Thursday 5 August, on BBC Scotland. The third qualifying round first leg tie kicks off at 4.45pm (BST) and the pundit confirmed as being former Celt Charlie Mulgrew who will be alongside regular presenter Steven Thompson, with the Sportscene coverage beginning at 4.30pm.
Photo: Malcolm Mackenzie
The second leg at Celtic Park is next week Thursday, 12 August with a 7.45pm kick-off and for that game Paradise should be at capacity or at least all season ticket holders will be permitted to attend. This follows the update from First Minister Nicola Sturgeon today on the lifting of practically all restrictions. However for the time being clubs will have to apply to their local authority for permission to admit their capacity crowds. Surely there won’t be any issue with that?
Of course this means that the mute Celtic Ticket Office will have failed to distribute tickets fairly, reasonably or evenly across season ticket holders for the series of games – friendly and competitive – where limited crowds were admitted. This was unfair, unreasonable and will leave a bad taste in the mouths of many supporters who faired badly (perhaps predictably badly) in these so-called ticket office ballots.
And the failure of the ticket office to even reply to questions from many supporters on this adds to the feeling that there is a complete distain for certain Celtic supporters within that office. Shambles.
