CELTIC have been fined 10,000 euros (£8,616) by Uefa after fans displayed an ‘illicit banner’ during their recent Champions League qualifier against Hapoel Be’er Sheva.
Fans flew Palestine flags before and during the match against Israeli opposition at Parkhead on August 17, drawing a charge from European football’s governing body.
Uefa viewed the flags as illicit banners under article 16 of its disciplinary regulations and at a disciplinary hearing the complaint against the Scottish champions was upheld and the club was fined.
The Uefa rule bans “gestures, words, objects or any other means to transmit any message that is not fit for a sports event, particularly messages that are of a political, ideological, religious, offensive or provocative nature.”
Celtic have been punished eight times in five seasons by Uefa for supporter misconduct and the sanction on each occasion has been a fine, and it was feared that Uefa might this time impose another sanction such as closing sections of the stadium at future matches.
The Parkhead club was fined around £16,000 two years ago after a Palestine flag was displayed at a Champions League qualifier against KR Reykjavik. Uefa will also be paying Celtic 500,000 Euros for the point they gained against Manchester City in the thrilling 3-3 draw on Wednesday.
Uefa has refused to answer why the flag of a member association of world governing body Fifa is of “a political, ideological, religious, offensive or provocative nature.”
Since the complaint was registered, Celtic fans have raised a reported 200,000 euros for Palestinian charities.
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