Parkhead club want flare yobs identified
CELTIC have called on their supporters to name and shame those fans responsible for their club facing yet another UEFA punishment. European football’s governing body announced yesterday that they are to investigate Thursday’s defeat to Inter Milan after the match delegate reported three separate flares being fired by the travelling support in the San Siro. It also emerged the Scottish champions are facing a second UEFA charge of ‘improper conduct’ after seven yellow cards were issued to Ronny Deila’s players following under-fire referee Ivan Kruzliak’s controversial performance. Celtic now face their seventh UEFA punishment over their supporters’ behaviour in just three years after match delegate Alvaro Albino’s report mentioned a flare being set off before kick-off and two during the game. ‘Over 3,000 fans travelled to Milan and once again supported the club brilliantly,’ read a Celtic statement. ‘Everyone at Celtic thanks these fans sincerely for the magnificent support they gave the team on another European occasion. ‘Unfortunately one or two individuals have again
damaged the club they claim to support, resulting in a further UEFA charge for the use of flares. ‘Today we have been inundated with support from Celtic fans who want an end to this activity and, like the club, do not want those responsible associated with Celtic in any way. ‘We would urge anyone with information on who these people are to get in touch with the club so that we can deal with this matter and get back to celebrating all that is great about our club.’ Inter Milan have also been hit with a charge for the ‘setting off of fireworks’ during the Italian club’s 1-0 victory which saw them advance to the last 16 of the Europa League on a 4-3 aggregate. Before the match, Celtic manager Deila appealed to the travelling supporters to refrain from lighting flares after the latest fine of £7,300 was administered just last week following a similar incident against Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia in December. Last night, Portuguese match delegate Albino told Sportsmail he has made mention of three different firework incidents in his report, with a hearing set for March 19. ‘The first smoke bomb I saw from the VIP stand before kick-off,’ said Albino. ‘I only saw green and white
smoke for two further banger lights during the match — but I confirmed the information I needed via DVD and put that information in my report. ‘I specifically put the information in of a banger light before the match and two during. ‘I don’t have any specific information about what happened with the referee on the pitch or his assistants.’ Speaking in the San Siro after Thursday’s defeat, Deila expressed dismay at the latest breaches. He said: ‘That’s very disappointing. We have to get rid of this, it’s nothing to do with football. The fans were unbelievable today but, again, they have to behave in the right way.’ It is understood that Celtic will contest the ‘improper conduct’ charge against their players on a night when Craig Gordon, Adam Matthews, Emilio Izaguirre, Nir Bitton and Kris Commons were all booked — the latter after the final whistle. Deila’s players were furious with many of Slovakian referee Kruzliak’s decisions and made their feelings known to him, not least his first-half dismissal of defender Virgil van Dijk following two dubious yellow cards.