Celtic fined by Uefa over supporters’ fireworks

CELTIC have been slapped with a €5,000 fine from Uefa after Parkhead fans set off fireworks at a Champions League qualifier earlier this year.

Georgios Samaras holds off Cliftonville's Ciaran Caldwell. Picture: PA

The incident took place at Celtic’s return match against Northern Irish side Cliftonville at Parkhead, in their second qualifying round match on July 23rd.

Uefa confirmed that the sanction had already been imposed following an initial charge of improper conduct by Celtic fans.

It is not the first time that Celtic have been hit with fines from European football’s governing body, having had a £21,000 fine imposed following supporter behaviour at a Europa League group match against Udinese in Italy, at which fans displayed an offensive banner and set off fireworks.

The incident at Udinese’s Friuli Stadium took place just three days after the club had been fined £12,700 for pro-IRA chants during an earlier group match against French club Rennes at Parkhead in Novmber 2011.

The club were also given a £420 fine for two incidents of plastic bottles being thrown towards the pitch during a Champions League match against AC Milan at the San Siro stadium in Italy in March 2007.

And just seven months later, the club were fined £25,000 after a supporter entered the field of play and confronted the opposing team’s goalkeeper.

The latest punishment means Celtic will have paid out over £100,000 in Uefa fines since 2007.