CELTIC were last night said to be stunned by Uefa’s decision to charge Leigh Griffiths for “provoking” Linfield supporters at Windsor Park.
The European football body opened up a case against the striker for tying a Celtic scarf around the goalposts last Friday after his side’s 2-0 win in a Champions League qualifying match.
Griffiths had a bottle and several other missiles aimed at him during the second-half and was awarded a yellow card by Spanish referee Alejandro Hernandez, seemingly for time wasting, when he delayed taking a corner-kick to show the official what had been thrown onto the pitch.
Read more: Celtic's Leigh Griffiths has a huge fan in the king of all Scotland strikers - Denis Law
And Celtic in fact face a club charge for “Improper conduct of the team” because five of their players were booked. Linfield have been charged for the missiles and because a supporter managed to get onto the pitch.
The cases will be dealt with by the Uefa Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body on Thursday.
Sources close to Celtic said the club was “stunned” and “astonished” by yesterday’s turn of events. It is expected that they will fight both charges.
The two teams meet again tomorrow evening for the second-leg at what will be a full Celtic Park.
Police in Glasgow have been working with their counter-parts from Northern Ireland to ensure there is not a repeat of the trouble in the Glasgow match.
Police Scotland yesterday confirmed that they have been working with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). Over 1,500 Linfield supporters are expected to travel to the match from Belfast.
Read more: Celtic's Leigh Griffiths has a huge fan in the king of all Scotland strikers - Denis Law
Andy banners deemed to be offensive will be confiscated as will any pyrotechnic devices.
Superintendent Craig Smith, Event Commander, said: “Let’s keep this match focused on the football.”
And Celtic in fact face a club charge for “improper conduct of the team” because five of their players were booked. Linfield have been charged for the missiles and because a supporter managed to get onto the pitch.
The cases will be dealt with by the Uefa Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body on Thursday.
Sources close to Celtic said the club was “stunned” and “astonished” by yesterday’s turn of events. It is expected that they will fight both charges.
The two teams meet again tomorrow evening for the second-leg at what will be a full Celtic Park.
Read more: Celtic's Leigh Griffiths has a huge fan in the king of all Scotland strikers - Denis Law
Police in Glasgow have been working with their counter-parts from Northern Ireland to ensure there is not a repeat of the trouble in the Glasgow match.
Police Scotland yesterday confirmed that they have been working with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). Over 1,500 Linfield supporters are expected to travel to the match from Belfast.
Andy banners deemed to be offensive will be confiscated as will any pyrotechnic devices.
Superintendent Craig Smith, Event Commander, said: “Let’s keep this match focused on the football.”
And he added: “Although the majority of supporters attending these matches are well-behaved and enjoy the game, there is often a minority who are intent in drinking too much alcohol and engage in criminal behaviour such as disorder, offensive behaviour and vandalism.
Celtic have racked up over £100,000 in fines since 2011 for a number of issues regarding fan behaviour.
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