Celtic fined €10,000 for crowd disturbances in Europa League tie

Fifth time in three years Celtic have been charged by Uefa over supporter behaviour

Celtic have been fined due to fan disturbances during an Europa League tie. Photograph Claudio Villa/Inpho
Celtic have been fined due to fan disturbances during an Europa League tie. Photograph Claudio Villa/Inpho

Celtic assistant manager John Collins insists it is "vitally important" that Celtic fans behave during the Europa League clash with Inter Milan at the San Siro on Thursday night.

The Parkhead club have been fined €10,000 by Uefa following crowd disturbances at their Europa League match with Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia last year.

Speaking at Glasgow airport before the trip to Milan for the second leg of the last-32 tie, with the teams tied at 3-3 from the first leg at Celtic Park last Thursday, the Hoops assistant manager said: “We are obviously disappointed. We had 60,000 last week (for first leg) and it was unbelievable behaviour from everyone of them, the atmosphere, and that is what Celtic is all about.

“One or two causing problems and hopefully that is the last we hear of it. They are representing a wonderful football club and throughout the years the vast majority of them have been impeccably behaved and we have a great reputation throughout Europe. One or two we have to try to weed out.”

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This is the fifth time in three years Celtic have been charged by Uefa over supporter behaviour after fans had clashed with police after fireworks were set off in the Celtic end of Stadion Maksimir during the team’s loss in that game against Zagreb.

Nonetheless the club qualified through to the last 32 of the competiton where they now play Inter Milan.

Collins confirmed that defender Jason Denayer, who stayed in at the interval during Sunday's 4-0 home win over Hamilton in the Scottish Premiership with a calf complaint, is fit again.

The former Celtic midfielder acknowledged the task ahead of the club but believes the Scottish champions can get through into the last 16.

He said: “We are away from home so we will be a little bit tighter early in the game but we will stay play our game, which is trying to pass and control the game.

“It would be a great achievement to go to such a place and win but we have to believe it. We will go there with no fear but lost of respect.

“They proved in the first game that that they are a good football team. I don’t think they played typically Italian style, defensive and boring; I thought they were very expansive and tried to build from the back.

“But I think we can get at them. We scored three goals and created other chances and we can cause anyone problems on our day.

“But we have to keep it tight at the back and not give any cheap goals away.”

Meanwhile Rangers director James Easdale has resigned from the board ahead of a meeting that could have seen him voted off.

The club announced to the stock exchange that Easdale had left both the plc and football club boards.

A statement read: “Rangers announces that James Easdale has resigned from the boards of the company and Rangers Football Club Limited with immediate effect. “He leaves Rangers having never received any remuneration, bonus or compromise payment during his time at the club.”