Celtic ban over 100 fans after crowd trouble

09 December 2013 21:01

Scottish champions Celtic on Monday banned over 100 of their fans in response to another outbreak of crowd trouble during last week's win at Motherwell.

A reported £10,000 worth of damage was caused to seats in the lower section of the South Stand housing Celtic fans at Fir Park on Friday.

A flare was let off in the same area before the game while two green smoke bombs were thrown into the goalmouth, one of them landing yards from Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster.

Now the club have handed "precautionary suspensions" to 128 supporters preventing them from attending home and away matches, while 250 season-ticket holders housed in section 111 - the infamous Green Brigade's corner of Celtic Park - will be moved to other parts of the ground.

Celtic have already given the ultras group one reprieve this year after reversing a decision to shut down Section 111 following complaints about safety breaches back in August.

UEFA, meanwhile, has opened disciplinary proceedings against the club after the Green Brigade unfurled a banner depicting IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands and Scottish warrior William Wallace during last month's Champions League clash with AC Milan.

A Celtic spokesman said: "Following events on Friday evening at Fir Park Stadium, Celtic Football Club today announced that it has issued precautionary suspensions against 128 individuals preventing them attending matches involving Celtic, pending further investigation. These suspensions will cover matches at Celtic Park and away matches.

"Events such as those on Friday night do not represent the Celtic support or the club. These events were an embarrassment to our great football club and are absolutely indefensible.

"It is clear that there is an element which has no hesitation in bringing Celtic's name into disrepute. This is something the club will not tolerate and we therefore have no other option but to take this action. We will not allow the great name of Celtic to be damaged in this way any more - our supporters deserve more than this."

Source: AFP