Falkirk to hold silence before Celtic kick-off

Published on Monday 2 November 2009 22:00

FALKIRK have rejected the idea of holding one minute's applause and will stick with the traditional minute's silence in Sunday's Remembrance Day meeting.

SPL officials let clubs decide on the best form of tribute for Scotland's war dead instead of a set policy.

The Bairns were always eager to mark the occasion with a traditional silence ahead of the Falkirk Stadium encounter, but it had been mooted that applause would be held instead in case away supporters disturbed the peace. The match is being televised live across the world and SPL leaders Celtic have sold out their entire ticket allocation.

Falkirk feel the minute's silence is most fitting. Keith Hogg, the club's operations manager, said: "Falkirk, as a club, have taken the decision to respect Remembrance Day in the appropriate manner – and that is a minute's silence.

"No meetings have taken place between the clubs on this and Celtic have not officially approached us on the subject.

"But we will have consultation with Celtic and the police on Friday morning at our scheduled pre-match operations meeting. Arrangements for Sunday, on all aspects of the game, will be discussed."

Meanwhile, Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc has undergone knee surgery which will keep him out for at least three weeks.

The Poland international has missed Celtic's last three matches with a thigh injury, so the club decided to put him in for the operation to fix an ongoing knee problem.

The surgery took place after Celtic were granted permission by Uefa to involve back-up goalkeeper Dominic Cervi for the Europa League clash in Hamburg on Thursday.