End for pyrotechnics at Celtic European matches, life’s a beachball

UEFA are a law unto themselves, but we need to tread carefully or face the consequences….

Beachball Sunday
Celtic fans get ready for their trip to Seville during the Bank of Scotland Scottish Premier League match between Glasgow Rangers and Glasgow Celtic held on April 27, 2003 at the Ibrox Stadium, in Glasgow, Scotland. Celtic won the match 2-1. (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)

UEFA as we know are a law unto themselves and sometimes it appears that they make the rules up as they go along. Recently this has been evident in their refusal to suspend Israel from international tournaments, even know they did the same with Russia.

Celtic’s UEFA fines make up a tidy sum

UEFA have made a tidy sum off our club in fines due to what they deem as offences committed by our supporters, with those offences mainly being the use of pyrotechnics at games. Despite it being a regular occurrence by supporters of other sides in European competitions, the governing body seem to pick on us for some reason or another or am I mistaken in thinking this? Probably. It just seems that way sometimes.

READ THIS…It’s No Flare – Uefa hit Celtic with a €20,000 fine and away fan ban threat

Fans of Celtic set of smoke flares in Dortmund
Fans of Celtic set of smoke flares in the stands during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League match between Borussia Dortmund and Celtic FC at BVB Stadion Dortmund on October 01, 2024 (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

Whether it’s wrong or not isn’t the issue at the moment especially after yesterday’s news that seen club fined €20,000 and the supporters hit with a one match travelling ban although it was suspended for two years, after the display of pyrotechnics in Dortmund last month.  So that is likely to mean that pyros could actually bring an end to European away days with tickets and remember UEFA have wider sanctions at their disposal.

We need to tread very carefully now

We need to tread very carefully now as the last thing we want is a ban on our travelling supporters who love their European away days. Our fans behaviour abroad is impeccable, but UEFA have us in their sights for the use of flares and pyrotechnics, as was seen in Dortmund. No-one is denying it happened, how could they?  UEFA make the rules and Celtic have communicated the message to supporters via the official club statement released on the club’s website last night.

READ THIS…Celtic take aim at “very small minority” after UEFA fan ban

Celtic fans in Dortmund holding flares
Celtic Fans hold smoke flares during the UEFA Champions League match between Borussia Dortmund and Celtic FC at BVB Stadion Dortmund on October 01, 2024 (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

Imagine Celtic fans getting banned from Villa Park

For instance could you imagine getting denied the chance of travelling to Birmingham to see us take on Aston Villa? It doesn’t bear thinking about. So it’s time for away support to consider ditching the pyros once and for all and don’t give UEFA any more excuses to hammer us.

Beachball Sunday
Celtic fans get ready for their trip to Seville during the Scottish Premier League match between  Rangers and Celtic held on April 27, 2003 at the Ibrox. Celtic won the match 2-1. (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)

I liked the suggestion on The Celtic Star last night about bringing back the beachballs!  Those were the days my friends.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

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About Author

An ordinary everyday Celtic supporters hailing and still residing in Govan in the shadows of the enemy. I’m a season ticket holder. I Witnessed my first Celtic game in 1988 and have attended when I can ever since. Growing up in the 90s I witnessed Celtic at their lowest, and now appreciate the historic success we enjoy today. I enjoy writing about this wonderful football club and hopefully will continue to do so. I’ve always been a keen writer and initially started this a hobby. My ambition is to one day become as good an author as my fellow Celtic Star colleagues.

1 Comment

  1. Might seem as if Celtic get picked on.Fake news though.Over the last few years there have been fines in the dozens of millions of euros for top clubs and hundreds of thousands of fines were issued to national authorities for behaviour of fans at Euro ’24.