Celtic fans riot at Old Firm match

Celtic back in the dock as UEFA charge club over fans behaviour at Udinese

Celtic face their second UEFA disciplinary case in two months after being charged in relation to two offences during their Europa League game against Udinese in Italy.

UEFA confirmed they had opened disciplinary proceedings against Celtic, charging the Glasgow club with 'the displaying of a banner of an offensive nature and the setting off of fireworks by supporters'.

The case will be heard by the UEFA's control and disciplinary body on January 26.

Some Celtic fans held aloft a two-part banner which insulted UEFA, days after the club were fined about £12,700 for 'illicit chanting' involving pro-IRA songs at a Europa League game against Rennes at Celtic Park.

Several flares were also let off and one was thrown on to the pitch-side track as Celtic exited the tournament with a 1-1 draw at the Stadio Friuli last Thursday night.

Celtic have already banned for life one fan who was arrested in Italy over the alleged assault of a club steward, and who they say was one of those responsible for the banner.

Celtic manager Neil Lennon and chief executive Peter Lawwell hit out out at the 'rogue' element within their support on the day after the game.

The club also vowed to sift through photographic evidence to find those fans responsible for the use of the flares, warning that they will take 'appropriate action'.

Lawwell said: 'It is very frustrating. Those people are not Celtic supporters.

'We will weed them out and these guys will not get back into Celtic Football Club.

'One or two silly little juvenile boys doing funny kids' pranks and stuff and it is bringing the whole of Scottish football down.'

Lennon added: 'My only surprise is that they got the spelling (on the banner) right.

'I am very disappointed, they have let me down, they have let the board, players and background staff down and 99.9% of the support down.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2076073/Celtic-face-UEFA-charge-fans-Udinese.html#ixzz1hA3pKZ5b

New Uefa charge for Celtic as SPL toughens rules on fan behaviour

By STEPHEN HALLIDAY
Published on Tuesday 20 December 2011 02:36

UEFA has formally charged Celtic for a fresh breach of its disciplinary regulations during last Thursday night’s Europa League tie against Udinese in Italy.

A section of the 800-strong Celtic support at the Friuli Stadium unveiled a banner with the message “F*** Uefa” and let off flares before the kick-off of their club’s final Group I fixture.

Celtic’s case will be heard by Uefa’s Control and Disciplinary Body in Nyon on 26 January, leaving the club facing their fifth disciplinary sanction from European football’s governing body in as many years.

Confirmation of Celtic’s latest Uefa charge came on the same day the Scottish Premier League announced changes to its rules relating to Unacceptable Conduct, which will now include chants and banners in support of, or in opposition to, any proscribed terrorist organisation.

Earlier this month, the SPL decided to take no action against Celtic after investigating a report of pro-IRA chanting during their home match against Hibs on 29 October, ruling that the club had taken all “reasonably practicable steps” to prevent them.

But Celtic were found guilty by Uefa of “illicit chanting” from their fans during the Europa League match at home to Rennes on 3 November and fined £12,700. The club accepted the punishment, with chief executive Peter Lawwell issuing a warning that the chants must stop.

It prompted the banner protest by a group of Celtic’s travelling support last Thursday night which, in addition to the lighting of flares, was reported to Uefa by its Danish match delegate, Steen Dahrup.

In a brief statement yesterday, Uefa confirmed that Celtic have been “charged with the displaying of a banner of an offensive nature and the setting off of fireworks by supporters at the Scottish club’s Uefa Europa League Group I match against Udinese Calcio in Italy last Thursday”.

The latest misdemeanour from among their support was condemned in the strongest possible terms by both Lawwell and Celtic manager Neil Lennon as they returned home last Friday. The club can anticipate a hefty fine from Uefa and are compiling a charge sheet which is becoming a major concern.

Since being fined a nominal sum of £420 for the throwing of water bottles during a Champions League match against AC Milan at the San Siro Stadium in March 2007, Celtic have subsequently received sanctions of £25,000 for improper conduct of supporters when a fan entered the field of play to confront Milan goalkeeper Dida at Parkhead seven months later, £42,430 for another pitch invasion during a home game against Manchester United in November 2008 and then the recent £12,700 sanction for illicit chanting.

Celtic’s quest to eradicate pro-IRA chants from their matches will be intensified in the wake of yesterday’s SPL general meeting at Hampden which saw the Unacceptable Conduct rule amendments, put forward following discussions with the Scottish Government-led Joint Action Group, put into force.

The definition of ‘Unacceptable Conduct’ within the SPL Rules has been extended to include “using words, conduct or displaying any writing or other thing which indicates support for, or affiliation to, or celebration of, or opposition to an organisation proscribed in terms of the Terrorism Act 2000”.

A number of amendments which set out the minimum standards expected of SPL clubs in relation to tackling Unacceptable Conduct will also be introduced. Where a charge is to be laid that a club has not met the requirements of the Unacceptable Conduct rules, the case will be heard by an Independent Commission chaired by an advocate or solicitor of at least ten years standing.

Any club found guilty of breaching the newly-constituted rules will face a range of potential punishments which include warnings, fines, annulment of results, points deductions, supporter bans and playing matches behind closed doors.

“Changes to our rules on Unacceptable Conduct raise the bar in terms of what is expected of clubs and shows our clubs are committed to playing their part in tackling Unacceptable Conduct,” said SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster.

The rule amendments mean all SPL clubs are now obliged to bring any instance of Unacceptable Conduct to the attention of the police match commander, take reasonably practical steps to identify spectators responsible for such conduct and then apply appropriate sanctions.

Clubs must include those requirements in all of their match ticket conditions and ground regulations, submit interim and annual reports to SPL secretary Iain Blair detailing actions taken to prevent Unacceptable Conduct and maintain records of requests for police assistance, interventions and responses to any incidents.

http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spl/new_uefa_charge_for_celtic_as_spl_toughens_rules_on_fan_behaviour_1_2016697

They’re morons but what’s YOUR excuse Peter?

THE first step to solving a problem is admitting you have one.

Alternatively, you could act like Peter Lawwell.

And keep denying, denying, denying in the vain hope the world will eventually go away and leave you alone.

Well, what else is there to say about a man who watches the away end in Udine unfurl a giant banner reading F*** UEFA and declares the halfwits responsible "aren't real Celtic fans".

Not real Celtic fans? Is he having a Steffi Graf?

These people paid about 400 quid a head to follow the team to Italy ten days before Christmas. If that doesn't make them real fans, what does?

Do they need to actually pay the team's hotel bill out of their own pocket? Buy a new left-back?

Because plainly Parkhead's chief executive isn't impressed by them merely travelling that far at that much expense at this time of year with that slim a chance of coming back happy.

Though, before the Green Brigade take this as some sort of compliment, one word of advice. Don't.

Because being there through thick and thin doesn't make them any less stupid, crass or bullying than the world already knows them to be.

That stunt the other night could cost their club big time, both in terms of another fine and permanent damage to their reputation around the world.

Mind you, at least they have an excuse. They're numbskulls.

On the other hand, Lawwell is an intelligent man. A financial whizz. A high-flying negotiator.

Yet he still refuses to own up to the fact that these morons are his club's problem and therefore his problem.

More to the point, he also seems blind to the fact that, in the eyes of those whose motto is F*** The World, not only are they real Celtic fans, they see themselves as the only true Celtic fans.

In their heads, they're upholding a noble cause. They're defending an oppressed community kept down by a bigoted establishment. They're freedom fighters.

Anyone who criticises them is criticising Celtic and, therefore, to be despised.

So when police officer Eddie Smith reports them to UEFA for singing pro-IRA bile, they turn up with a banner abusing him.

When UEFA crack down, they abuse them.

When everyone else in the country is respecting the dead of two wars, they turn up with a banner reading No Bloodstained Poppies On Our Shirts.

They produced stickers branding former chairman John Smith a war criminal because he was once Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Back in January, when I had a go at the behaviour of some of them at Ibrox, they turned up the following week with a banner reading F*** Bill Leckie. Everyone who isn't them is wrong. Everyone who isn't with them is against them. Everyone else is a bigot, not them.

Even Neil Lennon is getting it in the neck from them for having a pop over the Udine nonsense.

Though it's a fair bet the true paranoids among them will be tapping their noses and going: "Aye, he wants to agree with us, he's just scared that The Establishment will hammer him for it." It's all cobblers. But nothing more so than Lawwell's repeatedly-mumbled threat to "identify" offenders and "deal with them".

Here's a clue, Peter. They're the ones whose banners always have the same typeface and which are always in the same section of the ground at home games. The section you set aside for them.

Promising to "identify" them is like looking at the dugout and vowing to work out which one's Lennon from a description of him as the wee, angry ginger fella. The longer Lawwell remains in denial, the more powerful the banner-waving balloons will become in their own minds. The more powerful they believe themselves to be, the harder it will be to shift them.

And with every game where they get to hang about like a bad smell, the closer Celtic will come to their next embarrassment in the eyes of society.

So the situation's simple, Mr L.

You can deal with the problem. Or you can keep hiding from it and let it turn into a full-blown crisis. Your call.

Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/columnists/billleckiesports/4006341/Theyre-morons-but-whats-YOUR-excuse-Peter.html#ixzz1hA2UiHZ2

Scottish league to stop illicit chanting

Scotland's 12 Premier League clubs agreed on Monday to punish any club whose fans show support for guerrilla groups as they toughened up their rules on "unacceptable conduct" at league matches.

The move follows a series of incidents this year.

Celtic, the 42-times Scottish champions, were last week fined 15,000 euros ($19,600) by European soccer's governing body UEFA after their fans sang pro-Irish Republic Army (IRA) chants at a Europa League match against Rennes of France on Nov. 3.

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/sports/Scottish+league+stop+illicit+chanting/5885537/story.html

Football banning order for racist Celtic fan

A football fan who made racist remarks and assaulted a police officer has been banned from all games in Scotland.

Celtic fan Gerard Brodrick, 23, was caught making racist remarks at the Aberdeen vs Celtic on February 1 at Pittodrie Stadium.

The Glasgow man was banned from all Scottish games for two years at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on Friday after he admitted a racist breach of the peace.

He also admitted assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest.
Chief superintendent Adrian Watson, Aberdeen division commander, said: "Grampian Police is committed to stamping out racism and all other forms of unacceptable behaviour.

"We work closely with Aberdeen Football Club , the fans and the football authorities to identify those responsible for acting in an unacceptable manner and have made significant inroads into making the match day experience at Pittodrie one of the safest in the country.

"It is unfortunate that the very few continue to act in this way and this should serve as a warning that Grampian Police will not tolerate this type behaviour of behaviour in any shape or form ."

http://local.stv.tv/aberdeen/news/288355-football-banning-order-for-racist-fan/

Hooligan Celtic fans defiant over sectarian Pro IRA chanting

RENEGADE Celtic fans showed their contempt for football chiefs last night by setting off flares and waving a banner saying "F*** UEFA" at their Europa League clash.

They held up the sign ahead of the teams' arrival on the pitch — before Neil Lennon's side were dumped out of Europe in a 1-1 draw with Udinese in Italy.

A Celtic fan was arrested for attacking one of the club's own stewards. Parkhead chief Executive Peter Lawwell was in the crowd.

Grim-faced Lawwell was spotted on his mobile phone immediately after the banner stunt.

Hoops chiefs asked Italian cops to arrest the lout after the steward was attacked.

The yob spent the night in a Udine jail.

The scenes come just days after the club was hit with a £13,000 fine by the governing body over 'illicit chanting' at last month's home tie with Rennes.

The flares were let off — in breach of Italian law — by rogue Hoops fans in the away end of the Stadio Friuli in Udine moments before kick-off.

Celtic chiefs were desperate to avoid trouble and had issued warnings to fans spelling out what could happen if flares were lit. They said it could leave the club "exposed to disciplinary action."

It is understood that Celtic will pore over video footage of the banner being raised and the flares being set off.

Any fans identified will be banned from Parkhead for life.

It is likely the official UEFA match delegate Steen Dahrup, from Denmark, will include the behaviour in his report.

Celtic last night refused to comment.

Rennes applaud CELTIC UEFA guilty verdict

The French club back the decision to fine the Glasgow side.


General secretary Patrick Fretel said: "It's a wise decision. The delegate has done his job and has condemned these illicit chants.


"We only learned about them much later on as you need to be able to master the language to truly understand the context of the remarks."

http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scot...#ixzz1gVc7yICh

UEFA fines Celtic €15,000 for pro-IRA songs

NYON, Switzerland (AP) -UEFA has fined Scottish club Celtic ?15,000 ($19,877) after its supporters sang Irish political songs during a Nov.3 Europa League match against Rennes.

UEFA's control and disciplinary panel fined the Glasgow club after the body's match delegate was informed of what it called "illicit chanting'' by a Scottish police official.

Celtic was fined over pro-Irish Republican Army songs. Celtic traditionally draws support from Catholics and those in favor of Irish independence.

The club escaped punishment from the Scottish Premier League following an investigation into the singing of the same songs by a section of the club's fans in October.

Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell used October's annual club meeting to ask fans to stop the songs.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/soccer/wires/12/12/2080.ap.soc.uefa.celtic.fined.0127/index.html#ixzz1gLFBiu8M

Celtic fined by UEFA over ‘illicit chanting’

http://sport.stv.tv/football/scottish-premier/celtic/287296-celtic-fined-by-uefa-over-illicit-chanting/

Celtic have been hit with a 15,000 euros (£12,720) fine by UEFA after it was ruled that a section of their support had engaged in “illicit chanting”.

The Parkhead club were informed last month that they faced disciplinary action over the behaviour of some fans during their Europa League group stage match against Rennes on November 3.

Any appeal must be lodged within three days of the contested decision being received in writing. An appeal fee of 1,000 euros (£856) is payable.

UEFA’s control and disciplinary body met on Friday to consider the matter but did not announce their verdict until Monday due to the volume of cases they handled.

Celtic have not yet commented on the ruling but expressed their surprise at being investigated when the hearing was announced last month.

A club spokesman said on November 14: “Celtic supporters have a magnificent record of positive support for their team, something recognised by both UEFA and FIFA in recent years and we are extremely proud of this reputation.

“Therefore, the club will co-operate fully with any UEFA investigation.”

Appeal after sectarian chanting following Celtic match

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-16113911

Police are searching for 20 "rowdy" football fans who subjected fellow rail passengers to sectarian chanting between Dundee and Stirling.

The group boarded the train at about 19:00 on Sunday, after Celtic's 1-0 victory over Dundee United.

British Transport Police said the football supporters had also jumped on seats and banged windows while sitting in a rear carriage.

The train involved was the 15:27 service from Inverness to Glasgow.

PC Lorraine Lowe, who is in charge of the inquiry, said: "Passengers and rail staff have the right to travel without the fear of encountering anti-social behaviour of this kind.

"I am anxious to speak with anyone who travelled on this train and has information regarding the identity of those involved."

Police hunt 20 after sectarian chants terrorise rail passengers

http://news.stv.tv/scotland/tayside/286385-football-fans-terrorised-rail-passengers-with-sectarian-songs/

A gang of 20 football fans who terrorised rail passengers with sectarian chanting is being sought by police.

Passengers on the Inverness to Glasgow train were subjected to rowdy behaviour, including sectarian chanting, on Sunday, December 4.

The group jumped on seats, banged on windows and were heard singing and chanting sectarian songs.

The supporters boarded the train at Dundee shortly after 7pm, after Celtic's victory over Dundee United.

British Transport Police constable Lorraine Lowe said: "Passengers and rail staff have the right to travel without the fear of encountering anti-social behaviour of this kind.

"I am anxious to speak with anyone who travelled on this train and has information regarding the identity of those involved.

"CCTV footage from the train will also be examined as part of the investigation.The train involved was the 3.27pm service which runs from Inverness to Glasgow Queen Street via Aberdeen."

Anyone with information is asked to call British Transport Police on0800 405040 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Celtic fans bigot trial

Sunday Mail 20/11/11


Two Celtic fans allegedly sang sectarian songs in a pub on Remembrance Sunday.

Craig Kelly, 41, of Ayr and Paul Welsby, 31, from Bathgate, deny a religiously aggravated breach of the peace in Ayr's Willie Wastle's bar.

They face trial at Ayr Sheriff Court in March.

UEFA investigate ‘offensive’ Celtic songs

http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spl/uefa_investigate_offensive_celtic_songs_1_1963147

Published on Sunday 13 November 2011 02:32

CELTIC fans are at the centre of a UEFA investigation after police raised concerns over “offensive” songs during a Europa League game against Rennes.

Celtic have been asked by European football’s governing body to give their side of events during the 3-1 victory over the French club at Parkhead on November 3.

It is understood that Strathclyde Police made the UEFA delegate aware of “offensive” singing during the encounter.

A spokesman for the force said: “We can confirm there were a number of instances during the game of singing offensive songs and inquiries are ongoing to detect the offenders.”

Celtic today confirmed they had been asked by UEFA to provide a response to the allegations.

A club spokesman said: “We are currently looking into these claims.”

The club are understood to have been taken by surprise by the UEFA action, having had no direct feedback from the police.

A Celtic Park source said: “This is quite unprecedented as no issues were raised to the club during the match and the police didn’t inform us directly about their concerns.”

UEFA did not respond to phonecalls today but reports in the Scottish Sun claimed they would hold a hearing on December 8.

It is unclear what charge Celtic could face although it is believed that the allegations centre on songs about the IRA.

Celtic last month urged fans to stop singing pro-IRA chants after being “inundated” with complaints from their own supporters following their 2-0 defeat by Hearts at Tynecastle.

Lothian and Borders Police announced they had launched an investigation into the “singing of sectarian songs” following the Clydesdale Bank Premier League game on October 2.

Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell said: “Chants glorifying the Provisional IRA are totally unacceptable.

“One, it is wrong, and it is an embarrassment to the club and embarrassment to the majority of supporters.

“We have dealt with it at Celtic Park and we will do all we can to make sure it doesn’t happen home or away.

“We don’t want it, we don’t need it.

“We have the best supporters in the world and hold that reputation dear.”

Possible UEFA sanctions include a fine and ban on supporters.

Celtic UEFA probe over ‘hate songs’

CELTIC are being probed by UEFA chiefs over claims of sectarian chanting at a Europa League game.

Bigwigs acted after a top cop flagged up alleged offensive behaviour by fans during the match against Rennes at Parkhead.

If the hate song claims are found to be true the Hoops could be fined or their fans banned from European ties.

Last night a club insider said: "Celtic could be in big trouble over this. UEFA can hand down heavy punishments. The club have already pleaded with fans to cut out IRA songs at matches but it looks like some won't listen."

It's understood a senior Strathclyde officer working at the match earlier this month approached UEFA delegates with the chant claims.

A spokesman for the governing body said last night: "We have opened a disciplinary case against Celtic." It will be heard on December 8. In April, Rangers were fined £35,500 and their fans banned from their next away Euro game after they were found guilty of discriminatory chanting in a Europa League tie.

Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/3931165/Celtic-UEFA-probe-over-hate-songs.html#ixzz1dfeEOfeU

Celtic fan beats lamb to death after defeat

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3722497.stm

A teenage boy has been given a three-month jail sentence for battering a lamb with a golf club.

The attack was so severe that the animal had to be put down.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard that ramblers on the Campsie Fells witnessed Michael Harden, 16, from Lennoxtown near Glasgow, carrying out the attack.

The father-of-one told police officers that the attack "was just a bit of fun". Sheriff Hugh Matthews QC said that prison was "the only option".

The incident happened in May last year, hours after the Celtic fan had watched his team lose the league title to Rangers.

Emergency treatment

Harden chased the lamb and hit it twice with his golf club.

He then went after another lamb, which got away, and he returned to the first lamb and hit it twice more.

Harden fled the scene and ramblers called the police.

Vets collected the animal and carried out emergency treatment but the lamb had to be put down.

Judith Hutchinson, prosecuting, told the court: "The lamb suffered two broken legs and a series of internal injuries.

"Vets considered that they were consistent to a severe beating having taken place."

Unemployed Harden had earlier pleaded guilty to assaulting the lamb in breach of the Protection of Animals act.

The court was told he had not been drinking or under the influence of drugs that evening and that there had been "no reason" for the incident.

The SSPCA said it was an appropriate sentence.

Police restore order after Celtic drop points at home

29/10/11

Celtic 0 Hibernian 0

As trouble erupted in the Celtic end Police moved in to restore order.

Celtic fans responded by directing sectarian abuse at the Strathclyde force.

Celtic fans bigoted IRA chanting slammed

By Tom English, at Celtic Park
Published on Saturday 29 October 2011 23:52


http://www.scotsman.com/sport/footba...enge_1_19385

For Celtic, everything was flat, oh so flat. The atmosphere, until the emotion at the end, was as blah as it gets. For the longest time the only noise in the place emanated from those angry sons of Eireann, those stand-up patriots in the Green Brigade who had banged out two glorifications of the IRA within the first nine minutes and followed it up with further guff later on, some standard, and jaded, stick for the SFA and a highly mature take on the government’s secetarianism legislation that required Alex Salmond depositing it where the sun don’t shine. Now that Peter Lawwell is supposedly taking a hard line on these things he might want to have words. It’s not like he needs a compass to find them.

Celtic fans clash with Police after goal-less draw

http://breakingnews.heraldscotland.com/breaking-news/?mode=article&site=hs&id=N0351821319921521470A

Two people have been arrested in connection with a disorder during Celtic's home tie against Hibernian.

Eyewitnesses said trouble flared in the Celtic stands at Celtic Park shortly before the end of the game, which finished goalless and left the Hoops 12 points behind Scottish Premier League leaders Rangers.

The match also saw more protests against the Scottish Government's Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill, designed to "eradicate" sectarianism from Scottish football.

Celtic fans waved banners reading "Fans Against Criminalisation" and "Kill The Bill".

The trouble was said to have started around ten minutes before the end of the game in the "Green Brigade" section of the stands. One eyewitness said: "The police started to lift people. Some of the fans started running along the stands, and there was something going on underneath the stands too."

Football fans were also talking about the incident and posting photographs on internet forums and social media websites. Writing on the online forum ScottishFitba.net under the headline "Green Brigade skelped by Strathclyde's finest", user Red777 said: "After a crowd disturbance at the end of today's 0-0 at Parkhead...the Green Brigade decided to leave the ground as one, shadowed by the polis (police).

"More trouble ensued within the stairs/concourse area and the GB were held within the stadium while the police made arrests."

Writing on the fans' forum Kerrydale Street, user Celt88 said: "Police were really heavy handed with the Green Brigade after the game. Wouldn't let them leave and they had to move along to the Jock Stein end to get out. From what I saw the Green Brigade done well not to react as it really looked like it was going to kick off as the police waded into them trying to make arrests."

A Strathclyde Police spokesman confirmed that two people have been arrested in connection with a disturbance in the ground.

Saturday's match is the second meeting between the two clubs in four days, following Wednesday's Communities League Cup quarter-final which also saw disorder amongst fans. Police said Celtic and Hibs fans were involved in "pre-organised football related violence" after the match, which Celtic won 4-1.

Celtic fans in sectarian chant shame after "sham" protest

Oct 30 2011 Gordon Waddell, Sunday Mail

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/celtic/2011/10/30/spl-celtic-0-hibs-0-86908-23525528/

The only early talking point was yet another display of banners, maybe 80 strong, all one message, all saying "Kill The Bill".

Assuming they weren't talking about the popular ITV police procedural, which has been killed already, they were once again protesting against the Offensive Behaviour at Football Bill.

And you almost sympathised with them until eight minutes into the game when the first rendition of "Ooh ah up the RA" and the Boys of the Old Brigade went up and their charge for the moral high ground was exposed as a sham.