PETER LAWWELL, the Celtic chief executive, has revealed his opposition to proposals to introduce the UEFA policy of strict liability to deal with offensive behaviour at domestic matches, but insisted the club would continue to try to weed out the troublemakers among their travelling support.
The Scottish champions have been fined seven times in three years by European football's governing body for various offences, ranging from inflammatory banners to flares being lit. That frustrates Lawwell who feels the club's reputation is being tarnished by a handful of individuals.
"Strict liability is a very complicated subject," he said, as he announced a new five-year kit deal with New Balance. "There is black, white and grey. The difficulty is the grey. It would take a long time to go through it and analyse it and talk about it, but we are against it as we feel we have treated unjustly in some of the charges UEFA have put on us.
"We do everything we possibly can. I gave an example recently of Udinese [in December 2013]. We had 12 travel stewards, with everyone vetted and then that banner came up before the game. Our stewards went in to take it down and one was assaulted.The guys get reported to the police and are taken away, yet we are fined 40,000 Euros, so how much more can we do than we did on that night? But it's strict liability and, as a club, we are being punished for something we have not perpetrated and did everything to defend. That's not fair."
Lawwell conceded the sanctions could become heavier - including having all or part of their stadium closed for home European ties - should a section of the Celtic support continue to land the club in hot water with UEFA.
"The [consequences] could be worse, yes," he admitted. "We are taking this extremely seriously within the context of our reputation around Europe. Any misdemeanour or charge is reported, but put it into context.
"What is the mindset of a guy who is doing something that our supporters don't want? They travel to Milan and they either bring a flare with them or buy it in Milan. Everyone around them doesn't want it to happen, the club don't want it to happen, yet they bring it into the stadium and light it. How can you defend against something like that? It is concerning because it allows Celtic's name to be slurred."
Lawwell also revealed the club was in favour of selling alcohol at grounds, and of safe-standing. "That [the latter] is with Glasgow City Council at the moment. We are awaiting a response. We have had a positive dialogue. Hopefully we will get there in coming months.
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