Celtic have warned their supporters that they may be banned from attending the away leg of their Champions League play-off against Bayern Munich pending the conclusion of a UEFA investigation into their actions on Wednesday night.
The Scottish champions were hit with a £17,000 fine and handed a two-year suspended ban on selling away tickets after their supporters’ use of pyrotechnics during their clash against Borussia Dortmund in October.
The club now face an anxious wait to see if they will be allowed to have a travelling support when they meet the German giants after a smoke bomb was thrown on to the pitch during their defeat by Aston Villa this week.
Celtic revealed on Friday that they have received a further disciplinary notice from UEFA and warned supporters making travel arrangements for the tie next month.
‘We will obviously make robust representations to UEFA and will make every effort to ensure that our fans can attend our next Champions League match,’ the club statement began.
‘However, clearly, there is a risk that supporters may not be able to attend. In light of this situation, it is incumbent on the club to make supporters aware of this risk, when considering making arrangements for travel, until further information is provided by UEFA.’
Celtic fans could be banned from attending their side’s away leg against Bayern Munich after a smoke bomb was thrown onto the pitch during their clash against Aston Villa this week
The club revealed on Friday that they have received a further disciplinary notice from UEFA
The Scottish giants were beaten 4-2 by Villa thanks to a hat-trick from Morgan Rogers
Away supporters also aimed chants at Prince William who was in attendance at Villa Park
UEFA’s control, ethics and disciplinary committee will study the report of Maltese match delegate Adrian Casha before considering whether there is a case to answer.
Illicit chants and banners displayed by Celtic fans at Villa Park could also come under the spotlight.
Furthermore, West Midlands Police made 19 arrests of Celtic supports for offences including violent disorder, assaults, possession of Class A drugs, throwing pyrotechnics and having fraudulent tickets.
The thrilling encounter was also notable for the away supporter’s taunting of Prince William who was in attendance at Villa Park.
Celtic supporters sang ‘Lizzie’s in a box’ as the Prince of Wales saw them play his beloved Villa. Fans of the staunchly Catholic Glasgow club, some of whom also support Scottish independence and others hailing from the Republic of Ireland, also chanted ‘If you hate the Royal family, clap your hands’.
They displayed an Irish flag-themed banner glorifying Michael Fagan, who broke into Queen Elizabeth II’s bedroom at Buckingham Palace in July 1982, weeks after William was born.
‘Michael Fagan The Prowler’, the flag said, and Celtic fans are known to have chanted ‘Michael Fagan sorry for your loss’ and ‘f*** the Coronation’ when the Queen died.
The future king brushed off the chants, including some about his estranged brother Harry, cheering wildly as Villa won 4-2 despite even missing a penalty.