Rapid draw brings back memories of bitter and controversial battle

Yesterday's Europa League group stage draw in Monte Carlo would have provoked bitter recollections in the minds of many Celtic supporters of a certain vintage when it placed their club in the same section as the Austrian side.

An appetising Group C is completed by top seeds Hamburg and Israeli outfit Hapoel Tel-Aviv, but it is the name of Rapid which will have captured the attention of many Celtic fans.

In 1984, Celtic and Rapid were involved in one of the most controversial ties in European football history when they were paired in the second round of the Cup Winners' Cup.

After losing the first leg 3-1 in Vienna, a game which saw Celtic striker Alan McInally sent off, Davie Hay's men were in inspired form in the return at Parkhead. Leading 3-0 through goals from Brian McClair, Murdo MacLeod and Tommy Burns, they appeared to be cruising into the quarter-finals.

The tie took a dark and dramatic turn, however, when Rapid midfielder Reinhard Keinast was sent off for punching Burns inside the penalty area. It prompted a 15 minute break in play as the Rapid players remonstrated with the match officials.

Before the action restarted, with a penalty kick which Peter Grant missed, Rapid player Rudolf Weinhofer left the field claiming he had been struck by one of several bottles thrown by Celtic supporters. Television pictures showed Weinhofer, who left the ground with his head bandaged in comedy fashion, had not been hit. The crowd disorder remained a serious matter, however, and Rapid demanded Celtic's elimination from the tournament.

The Uefa disciplinary committee initially ruled that the result should stand. While Celtic were fined 4,000 for the bottle-throwing, Rapid were fined 5,000 for the conduct of their players, Keinast received a four-match ban and Weinhofer's claim that he had been struck was dismissed.

Rapid lodged an appeal, however, and, with a personal testimony from their club doctor, succeeded in persuading Uefa that Weinhofer was hit by a 'small object' not seen on television.

The second leg was ordered to be replayed, at a venue no less than 100 miles from Parkhead. Old Trafford was selected and on a grim night for Celtic, they lost 1-0 to a goal from Peter Pacult who is now the Rapid manager.

Sadly, the frustration of the Celtic fans manifested itself in violence as both Pacult and Rapid goalkeeper Karl Ehn were assaulted following pitch invasions. Uefa subsequently imposed a 17,000 fine on Celtic and ordered them to play their next home European tie behind closed doors. Rapid went on to reach the final of the tournament where they lost 3-1 to Everton.

Celtic defender Danny Fox was not even born at the time, but he has already seen enough evidence to persuade him that the current Rapid side are also capable of chicanery. In the week when he fumed along with the rest of his team-mates at Eduardo's dive which earned Arsenal the penalty kick which buried Celtic's Champions League ambitions in London, Fox is wary of a similar experience against the Austrians who defeated Aston Villa on away goals to reach the Europa League group stage.

"I watched a bit of their game at Villa on the telly on Thursday night," said Fox. "They look a very technical side, but a few of their players were taking dives as well. We will have to watch out for that."

Fox expressed his satisfaction at news of Uefa charging Eduardo for misconduct during the match at the Emirates Stadium.

"There is nothing worse than to see a player cheating his fellow professionals," added Fox. "It is right for Uefa to set an example. It doesn't matter who it is, you have to send a message. It's a man's game, you can't be cheating your fellow pros."

Celtic manager Tony Mowbray was more circumspect in his reaction to the Uefa action, even expressing a modicum of sympathy for the Arsenal man. "Eduardo has had a tough 18 months with his injury," said Mowbray. "Uefa have seen the profile of the game and maybe see it as an opportunity for them to highlight something they want to stamp out.

"Football managers have to be very careful in condemning other players. I could be sat down after Sunday's game after one of my players has dived.

"Football is a professional sport and sometimes if you feel contact of any sort, some people look to take advantage."

Mowbray prefers to look forward to the Europa League challenge and he welcomed yesterday's draw.

"I watched Hamburg knock Manchester City out of the Uefa Cup last season," he said. "

Rapid Vienna have just beaten a top six team from England in Aston Villa.

I don't know enough about Hapoel Tel-Aviv yet, but I would suggest going to Israel is not going to be easy.

"I think the Uefa Cup has been treated with disdain by some clubs in recent times, but I think under this new guise it looks like a good competition. I won't be as bullish as to say we can win it, but I hope to be competitive in it."

ROUGH GUIDE TO EUROPA LEAGUE GROUP C

HAMBURG

Nickname: Rothosen (Red Shorts)

Stadium (capacity): Nordbank Arena (57,274)

Founded: 1887

League: Bundesliga

Manager: Bruno Labbadia

Interesting fact: The Germans are the only team in the country to have never been relegated from the Bundesliga since its inception in 1963.

Star man: Ze Roberto – veteran Brazilian is still going strong at 35

HAPOEL TEL AVIV

Nickname: Red Devils

Stadium (capacity): Bloomfield Stadium (15,700)

Founded: 1926.

League: Israeli Premier League

Manager: Eli Gutman

Interesting fact: Hearts player Laryea Kingston had a one-year spell with the club in Israel six years ago.

Star man: Samuel Yeboah – 23-year-old Ghanian international is a 2million target for Birmingham and CSKA Moscow.

RAPID VIENNA

Nickname: The Green and Whites.

Stadium (capacity): Gerhard Hanappi (18,400)

Founded: 1899

League: Austrian Bundesliga (Austria)

Manager: Peter Pacult

Interesting fact: Pacult scored only goal when Rapid met Celtic in their infamous 1984 Cup Winners' Cup clash replay at Old Trafford.

Star man: Steffen Hoffmann, captain – nicknamed 'soccer god' by fans.