That’s No Flare – No Natural Justice as Celtic Partially close Standing Section ‘following safety issues’

CELTIC have released a bombshell on the support tonight ahead of Thursday’s Europa League match against Rennes. The club have released a statement this evening announcing a Partial Closure of the Standing Section with all supporters in rows A-M will be affected.

These supporters, many of whom were standing out int he cold and rain at the weekend collecting donations for the Green Brigade’s Food Bank Appeal – will have their tickets cancelled and will be issued with a refund from the club.

The vast majority of Celtic fans in the stadium at the last game against Lazio – myself and my boys included – were all partially guilty of singing the illicit chant aimed at the disgraceful Lazio support. I even got myself a week long ban on Facebook for using the letter that comes after M in the alphabet instead of the L in Lazio. Celtic pleaded with the support not to use flares or pyrotechnics at this game and this was respected.

The banners against Lazio love affair with “Italy’s War Time Leader” as Chris McLaughlin called him, was clearly a one-off and could and should have been overlooked by the Celtic Board for what it was. The latest fine has nothing to do with ‘Safety Issues’ as the club has stated in the headline.

It’s true that flairs returned for the away game in Rome and that the club will undoubtedly be fined for this again. You can understand the club’s frustration at this. But Celtic know who had tickets in Rome and therefore will know that there will be supporters banned from the game on Thursday night who did not travel to Rome, yet are being punished by the club. Surely that is wrong?

The issue of the flares was always going to come to a head with the Celtic Board and indeed UEFA likely to take action. It was a decision that was coming and probably everyone half expected it. However the timing and the club’s justification seems wrong. There were no flares as requested at the Celtic v Lazio game just as the club had requested yet the supporters in this section are being punished as if that had happened at the Lazio game at Celtic Park. The club clearly state the reason is “Following safety issues’ – yet Celtic were fined for illicit banners and chants NOT for flares.

Trouble in Stockholm

Still it will take the heat off the Board at Wednesday’s AGM with regard to the real elephant in the room. The partial closure of the standing section is likely to dominate the questions from the floor which means that there will be less attention for Res 12.

Here is the Celtic statement in full…

Partial Rail Seating closure following safety issues

Celtic has ultimate responsibility for the safety of all our supporters and it is a responsibility which we take very seriously.

We need to tackle any behaviour which can compromise the safety of our supporters including the use of pyrotechnics, overcrowding and offensive chanting or banners.

Following the latest UEFA disciplinary decision we can confirm that there will be a partial closure of the rail seating section at Celtic Park for the forthcoming match against Rennes.

All those supporters affected will be notified and will receive a refund.

This decision follows similar significant sanctions being imposed against the Club already this season for the use of pyrotechnics during the matches against CFR Cluj and AIK Stockholm.

The Club also faces another UEFA charge for the use of pyrotechnics during the match in Rome recently and this will be heard on 12th December 2019.

Regrettably, these charges and sanctions continue to damage the Club’s reputation and this behaviour continues to threaten supporter safety.

UEFA’s rules and the Club’s long-established ground regulations are very clear. Indeed, the Club engages in regular dialogue with all supporters groups to ensure these are well known and understood.

We have considered this matter very carefully. It is disappointing that behaviour which is unsafe and which we all know will breach UEFA and Club regulations has continued.

N.B. supporters in rows A-M will be affected.

End of Statement.

If you would like to contribute to a follow up article on this Partial Rail seating closure on Thursday night, please send your thoughts and opinions to editor@thecelticstar.co.uk and we’ll compile and post asap.

About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor, who has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

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