New Uefa charge for Celtic as SPL toughens rules on fan behaviour

A section of the 800-strong Celtic support at the Friuli Stadium unveiled a banner with the message “F*** Uefa” and let off flares before the kick-off of their club’s final Group I fixture.

Celtic’s case will be heard by Uefa’s Control and Disciplinary Body in Nyon on 26 January, leaving the club facing their fifth disciplinary sanction from European football’s governing body in as many years.

Confirmation of Celtic’s latest Uefa charge came on the same day the Scottish Premier League announced changes to its rules relating to Unacceptable Conduct, which will now include chants and banners in support of, or in opposition to, any proscribed terrorist organisation.

Earlier this month, the SPL decided to take no action against Celtic after investigating a report of pro-IRA chanting during their home match against Hibs on 29 October, ruling that the club had taken all “reasonably practicable steps” to prevent them.

But Celtic were found guilty by Uefa of “illicit chanting” from their fans during the Europa League match at home to Rennes on 3 November and fined £12,700. The club accepted the punishment, with chief executive Peter Lawwell issuing a warning that the chants must stop.

It prompted the banner protest by a group of Celtic’s travelling support last Thursday night which, in addition to the lighting of flares, was reported to Uefa by its Danish match delegate, Steen Dahrup.

In a brief statement yesterday, Uefa confirmed that Celtic have been “charged with the displaying of a banner of an offensive nature and the setting off of fireworks by supporters at the Scottish club’s Uefa Europa League Group I match against Udinese Calcio in Italy last Thursday”.

The latest misdemeanour from among their support was condemned in the strongest possible terms by both Lawwell and Celtic manager Neil Lennon as they returned home last Friday. The club can anticipate a hefty fine from Uefa and are compiling a charge sheet which is becoming a major concern.

Since being fined a nominal sum of £420 for the throwing of water bottles during a Champions League match against AC Milan at the San Siro Stadium in March 2007, Celtic have subsequently received sanctions of £25,000 for improper conduct of supporters when a fan entered the field of play to confront Milan goalkeeper Dida at Parkhead seven months later, £42,430 for another pitch invasion during a home game against Manchester United in November 2008 and then the recent £12,700 sanction for illicit chanting.

Celtic’s quest to eradicate pro-IRA chants from their matches will be intensified in the wake of yesterday’s SPL general meeting at Hampden which saw the Unacceptable Conduct rule amendments, put forward following discussions with the Scottish Government-led Joint Action Group, put into force.

The definition of ‘Unacceptable Conduct’ within the SPL Rules has been extended to include “using words, conduct or displaying any writing or other thing which indicates support for, or affiliation to, or celebration of, or opposition to an organisation proscribed in terms of the Terrorism Act 2000”.

A number of amendments which set out the minimum standards expected of SPL clubs in relation to tackling Unacceptable Conduct will also be introduced. Where a charge is to be laid that a club has not met the requirements of the Unacceptable Conduct rules, the case will be heard by an Independent Commission chaired by an advocate or solicitor of at least ten years standing.

Any club found guilty of breaching the newly-constituted rules will face a range of potential punishments which include warnings, fines, annulment of results, points deductions, supporter bans and playing matches behind closed doors.

“Changes to our rules on Unacceptable Conduct raise the bar in terms of what is expected of clubs and shows our clubs are committed to playing their part in tackling Unacceptable Conduct,” said SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster.

The rule amendments mean all SPL clubs are now obliged to bring any instance of Unacceptable Conduct to the attention of the police match commander, take reasonably practical steps to identify spectators responsible for such conduct and then apply appropriate sanctions.

Clubs must include those requirements in all of their match ticket conditions and ground regulations, submit interim and annual reports to SPL secretary Iain Blair detailing actions taken to prevent Unacceptable Conduct and maintain records of requests for police assistance, interventions and responses to any incidents.