CELTIC won’t face any action from UEFA after ultras unfurled a massive banner declaring ‘Show Israel the Red Card’ prior to this month’s first leg Champions League clash.
Hoops bosses are no strangers to facing action from the European governing body as a result of the actions of their fans.
Celtic’s head coach Brendan Rodgers and Bayern’s head coach Vincent Kompany at Parkhead[/caption]
Fans of Celtic unfurl a ‘Show Israel the Red Card’ banner[/caption]
Celtic fans at the second match in Munich[/caption]
The Hoops have a two year suspended one-match away fan ban in the continent hanging over them after a massive pyro display ahead of the meeting with Borussia Dortmund in the league phase.
And they faced a massive sweat that fans wouldn’t be permitted to travel to Munich for the second leg playoff round clash after a fan threw a smoke bomb onto the pitch against Aston Villa in their final league phase match.
Those fears, though, came to nothing with UEFA chiefs deciding that the action of one isolated fan couldn’t be placed on a par with a concerted action from a group of ultras.
But there were also fears of action in the first leg of the playoff clash against the Bavarian giants, after Hoops ultras in the Green Brigade section unfurled a large banner stating ‘Show Israel the Red Card’.
The supporters in the section below the banner also held up smaller red cards featuring the same message.
A message on flyers handed out by the group read: “At the start of the 2nd half, please SHOW ‘ISRAEL‘ THE RED CARD to send a direct message to UEFA and FIFA to apply their respective statutes and suspend ‘Israel’ from competition.
“By doing so, you will not only be doing the right thing but you will be joining football fans of conscience and courage around the worlds who will be adopting the same message.”
UEFA generally take a dim view of what they call ‘political slogans’ – and are notoriously keen to act when it comes to the Israel-Palestine issue.
A number of other clubs and ultra groups across the world have since adopted similar signs, although not always in Uefa matches.
But now the SunSport has learned that NO case was opened against the Hoops for the banner in the first leg.
A smaller banner reading ‘Show Zionism the Red Card’ was unfurled in the Hoops section ahead of the second match at the Allianz Arena.
It’s unclear yet if any action will be taken over the second leg banner but for now it appears that the Hoops are in the clear.
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
