In the run-up to tonight’s Champions League match against Lazio at Celtic Park, the club has confirmed to The Celtic Star that they have been hit with yet another UEFA fine, this time for €23,000, for the pyrotechnics set off by the travelling Celtic support at the De Kuip stadium in Rotterdam on match day one.
This is a continuing problem for Celtic, who have been subjected to multiple UEFA fines over the last decade or so and are hopeful that this may be handled by communication and agreement to the satisfaction of all parties with Celtic’s best interests in mind.
Of course, many fans will argue that pyros and color add to the occasion and emphasize the team’s support, while others see little point in the club having fine after fine to pay with no sign of a settlement in sight.
Whatever your feelings are on the pyrotechnics problem, it is certain that Celtic will continue to be penalised, and pyros will almost certainly be set off tonight. It also offers the media fodder to go after Celtic with their take on the massive fines that have always seemed to come our way.
Couldn’t we at the very least agree not to use them during UEFA matches? There will be a debate over this one way or another, since Celtic intends to launch an appeal to supporters to halt the scenario in which UEFA fines are a constant, and the club is expected to ask UEFA to intervene.
Anyone who attended the Rapid Vienna game in 1984 will understand how these things may go horribly wrong when UEFA is involved, and tolerance appears to be wearing thin. We can’t claim that we weren’t warned.
The Celtic position on this is as follows:
“Clearly, we are concerned that, despite repeated requests and safety warnings, a small minority of Celtic fans continue to use pyrotechnics at their games.”
“The use of pyrotechnics poses a significant threat to the safety of our supporters.” Due to this behavior, Celtic has received yet another substantial fine from UEFA. Again, the club demands that this behavior cease.”
Celtic fines amount more than £250,000 over the last ten years, the most of which are related to pyrotechnic offences.
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