Celtic have been fined €29,000 (£25,000) for incidents involving their supporters at last month’s Champions League draw at home to Atlético Madrid.
The club were fined €17,500 by Uefa for displaying “a provocative message of an offensive nature”. European football’s governing body also imposed fines of €8,000 for their supporters blocking public passageways and €3,500 for the lighting of fireworks.
Atlético Madrid were also sanctioned, with the Spanish side fined €3,000 for fans’ lighting of fireworks, and also received a warning for the “improper conduct of the team” during the 2-2 draw at Celtic Park on 25 October.
Celtic fans had defied the club’s pleas not to bring flags or banners relating to the Israel-Hamas war, with several Palestinian flags displayed by supporters at the game. Uefa has confirmed to the BBC, however, that this was not the reason for the fine.
The latest fines represent the third time in three Champions League matches this season that Celtic have been hit with a financial penalty. The club were fined €23,400 after fans lit fireworks in the stands before their group opener against Feyenoord in Rotterdam.
Following their second match at home to Lazio, the Scottish Premiership leaders had to pay a €20,000 penalty for offensive banners and €3,500 for the use of fireworks among their supporters.
The club have been at loggerheads with fans’ group the Green Brigade recently, following a string of disputes and flashpoints. Members of the Green Brigade remain suspended from Celtic Park and are not receiving tickets for away matches. The issue was discussed further at the club’s annual general meeting on Wednesday.
“We all want Celtic Park full of Celtic fans, [but] that has to be done in a safe way,” said the club’s chief executive, Michael Nicholson. “We have had some concerns about safety with that particular group for some time, and this season those concerns have escalated. It was not a decision taken lightly but a decision taken for safety.”
Celtic have also told supporters travelling to Rome for next Tuesday’s Champions League match against Lazio that all flags, banners and drums must be pre-approved by the Italian club.
A message posted on social media by Celtic’s supporter liaison officer, John Paul Taylor, on Tuesday read: “We have been advised that, flags, banners & drums require to be pre-approved ahead of Tuesday’s match.” Taylor added that images should be sent to him by Thursday in order to be approved in time.
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This article replaces an earlier version, also published on 22 November 2023 and based on reporting from another news agency, which said Uefa had fined Celtic after fans waved Palestinian flags. Uefa has confirmed this was not in fact the reason for the fines imposed.