CELTIC FC have been handed a £8,615 fine from UEFA on the back of their fans waving Palestine flags against Israeli side Hapoel Beer Sheva in August.
European football’s governing body declared the Bhoys guilty of having an ‘illicit banner’ in the Champions League qualifier on August 17, the ninth time Celtic have been punished by UEFA for fans’ behaviour in the last five seasons.
A UEFA rule forbids ‘gestures, words, objects or any other means to transmit any message that is not fit for a sports event, particularly messages that are of a political, ideological, religious, offensive or provocative nature’.
Celtic fan group The Green Brigade were behind the display, but have insisted the decision to show their support for the oppressed Palestine was not designed to antagonise their Israeli opponents, rather to raise awareness of their plight.
On the back of the publicity their behaviour generated, a GoFundMe page has raised over £172,800 for charities who deliver health and medical care to Palestinians worst affected by conflict with Israelis in their region.
