[/media-credit]UEFA’s Control and Disciplinary body will hear the case against Celtic on January 26th, 2012.
An element of the Celtic support unfurled a banner stating ‘F**k UEFA’ shortly before their 1-1 draw with the Serie A outfit. Flares were also set off, with one thrown from the stand onto trackside.
According to Article 11 of UEFA’s Disciplinary Regulations clubs can be punished if their supporters “light fireworks or any other objects”.
The same ruling also warns that measures would be taken if fans misbehave through ‘the use of gestures, words, objects or any other means to transmit any message that is not fit for a sports event, in particular if it is of a political, offensive or provocative nature’.
Last week, Celtic were fined 15,000 euros by UEFA for illicit chanting from their supporters during their Europa League clash against Rennes on the 3rd November. If found guilty, the club could face heftier sanctions which would include an increased fine, a full or partial closure of the stadium on match day or banned from Europe for a season.
On Friday Peter Lawwell condemned the ‘rogue element’ saying: “These people are not Celtic supporters and we will weed them out. We are embarrassed.”
Celtic chairman Ian Bankier denounced the same ‘rogue element’, saying: “Both [events]are unacceptable in our eyes, completely unacceptable. We have to drive this out of the club. It’s not only doing us harm but Scottish football is harmed.
“It’s one or two silly, juvenile boys doing funny, kid pranks and it’s bringing the whole of Scottish football down. It’s overtaking what was a fantastic performance.
“We’ll weed them out. We know this guy and we’ve got him. There were arrests made last night and these guys will not get back into Celtic Park.
“We will just keep on that road until we have weeded them all out. We’re talking to the supporters organisations about what they can do for the people in the travelling crowd to self-police, the way the Tartan Army do. We are looking to take every measure we can take. This has to stop.”
Celtic have already imposed a lifetime ban on the supporter they say was responsible for the banner and assaulting a steward at the Stadio Friuli.
