SHUTDOWN!

Fan behaviour leads Celtic to close section for Rennes tie

CELTIC last night announced they are closing part of their stadium for Thursday’s Europa League visit of Rennes in an attempt to tackle unruly fan behaviour.

The club also confirmed they have been hit with a fresh UEFA charge — their 20th — relating to their supporters’ conduct away to Lazio earlier this month.

A section of the rail-seating area within Celtic Park, which houses the club’s Green Brigade fans’ group, will be shut for the Group E match against the French side.

The affected area at Parkhead holds 2,600 in total but the self-imposed closure will only affect rows A-M — around 350 fans.

When Celtic shut down the Green Brigade section for two games in July 2017 amid ‘serious safety concerns’, the decision impacted on 900 fans.

All supporters with tickets for seats in the area that will be closed against Rennes have been promised a full refund.

A club statement read: ‘Celtic has ultimate

responsibility for the safety of all our supporters and it is a responsibility which we take very seriously. ‘We need to tackle any behaviour which can compromise the safety of our supporters, including the use of pyrotechnics, overcrowding and offensive chanting or banners. ‘Following the latest UEFA disciplinary decision, we can confirm that there will be a partial closure of the rail seating section at Celtic Park for the match against Rennes. ‘All those supporters affected will be notified and will receive a refund. This decision follows similar significant sanctions being imposed against the club already this season for the use of pyrotechnics during the matches against CFR Cluj and AIK Stockholm.’ This latest move to shut part of the stadium came after Celtic were fined £12,900 by UEFA for obscene chants by fans and an ‘illicit banner’ being shown during a 2-1 home win over Italian side Lazio last month. Celtic had earlier been fined £11,000 after flares were set off and objects thrown in a Europa League play-off win over AIK Stockholm in Sweden in August. The Glasgow club was then fined £10,400 after supporters set off flares during the 2-0 group stage victory over Romanian champions Cluj in October. And Celtic last night confirmed they are facing yet another charge relating to the use of pyrotechnics during their 2-1 win over Lazio in Italy on November 7, saying: ‘The club faces another UEFA charge for the use of pyrotechnics during the match in Rome recently and this will be heard on 12th December, 2019.’