Blues supporter who sang sectarian song at Celtic match is given a lifetime ban by club

LINFIELD has handed a lifetime ban to a Belfast man convicted of singing a sectarian song at the club’s Champions League qualifier against Celtic in Glasgow.

The Blues did not name the individual, but he is understood to be 46-year-old Scott Colville, a Belfast greengrocer.

He admitted singing a song which included the phrase “F ***** b ****** s” at Celtic Park before the game last week and was fined £300.

A club statement said: “At Monday’s scheduled board meeting, the directors of Linfield Football Club issued a lifetime ban to an individual convicted of a criminal offence in Glasgow during the away leg of our Champions League tie against Celtic.

“All indications so far are that this individual was neither a club member nor a season ticket holder and we have begun an investigation to establish how theywereabletoobtainamatch ticket.”

Linfield has said it will chase those fans responsible for trouble at the first leg to pay for a £8,964 fine issued by Uefa in the aftermath of the tie.

Celtic were also hit by charges for an illicit banner displayed at Parkhead, which the club has condemned.

The Linfield club statement continued: “We continue to co-operate with the PSNI over the events of the first leg and are hopeful that individuals who have now been identified will shortly appear before the courts.

“Linfield note that the local courts have the power to issue banning orders against individuals convicted of criminal offences in football stadia, and would be fully supportive of such punishments being invoked in the event of convictions arising from this match.”