Linfield chief feels for the fans who are missing out

LInFIELd chairman roy McGivern has admitted he feels sorry for thousands of Celtic fans not being able to attend Friday’s Champions League tie at Windsor Park, insisting the Irish League club could have accommodated them safely.

Last month, Celtic revealed they had decided not to take up their allocation of tickets for the eagerly anticipated first leg of the second qualifying round game in Belfast because of security concerns.

But McGivern insisted yesterday that such fears were groundless and said: ‘We believe we could have managed it, working with all relevant authorities and with the PSnI (Police Service of northern Ireland) to bring a number of Celtic fans to the ground and have it well segregated.

‘It’s a big occasion for everyone at the club. Celtic have their own reasons, which we won’t go into, but we certainly would have accommodated them inside this ground.

‘We’re bringing 1,500 fans to Celtic Park and I wouldn’t want to be going to that game without our supporters. I couldn’t have lived with that decision.

‘I do feel sorry for genuine Celtic supporters and we have engaged with some of them. I think, as a fan, you want to see supporters of both clubs getting the opportunity to go to the game but we have built up a good relationship with Celtic and you have to respect the wishes of their club and we wouldn’t go against those wishes.’

A Windsor Park sell-out would have meant 18,000 fans inside the stadium. due to security and Celtic’s refusal to take up their allocation, the capacity will be around 10,500.

McGivern believes there may be a small number of Celtic fans inside the ground, as some tickets can still be bought on general sale. He revealed that plans are in place to deal with that eventuality, adding why it is so important that the fixture passes off peacefully.

‘The police will have intelligence about who is buying tickets and where they are sitting,’ he said. ‘Tickets sales close at 2pm on Thursday and the police will have time to have a plan in place for those Celtic fans who go against the wishes of their club and come.

‘I won’t get into operational matters, but the police are working with us and they have a robust plan in place and believe they can deal with any situation.

‘I’d be amazed if there weren’t any Celtic fans inside the ground, but we just don’t know at this stage.

‘We are looking forward to two games of football but there are, of course, bigger implications. ‘northern Ireland as a society has moved on a lot in the past few years and it’s vital that both legs pass off peacefully. It’s vital for this club because we have had difficulties in the past in Europe. ‘We’ve been banned from playing at Windsor Park and, although I don’t want to drag up things from the past, we have also had a uEFA fine a few years ago.

‘It’s crucial for this team that we can protect the good name of this club.

‘We want our fans to be loud and proud, and back the club with Linfield songs but we don’t want dragged back to the bad old days.’