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Football

16th Sep 2022

Uefa charge Celtic for banner as Rangers escape punishment

Robert Redmond

Uefa have opened proceedings against Celtic.

Uefa have opened disciplinary proceedings against Celtic after some of their travelling supporters displayed an anti-monarchy banner during the club’s Champions League game against Shakhtar Donetsk.

Rangers, however, have escaped punishment after they defied Uefa’s ban on playing the UK national anthem ahead of their 3-0 defeat to Napoli at Ibrox.

Supporters of the Glasgow club also displayed a tifo in honour of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Celtic Rangers Uefa

Uefa charge Celtic for anti-monarchy banner.

A section of Celtic supporters at their Champions League game in Warsaw unveiled banners which read ‘F*** The Crown’ and ‘Sorry for your loss Michael Fagan‘ – a reference to the man who broke into Buckingham Palace in 1982 and reached the Queen’s bedroom.

BT Sport, who broadcast the 1-1 draw, apologised after showing the banners. Celtic players wore black armbands at the match, which was played at a neutral venue in Poland due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. There was no minute’s silence before the game.

Uefa announced on Thursday that they have opened disciplinary proceedings against the Scottish champions.

Celtic Rangers Uefa

Rangers escape Uefa punishment.

Meanwhile, Rangers will not be punished for defying Uefa regulations to play the UK national anthem ahead of their Champions League tie.

The Glasgow club, along with Manchester City and Chelsea, asked Uefa for permission to play ‘God Save the King’ ahead of their game. The European football governing body rejected the request, but Rangers still played the anthem.

The club will not be punished for this breach, and are likely to repeat the pre-match tribute against Dundee United at Ibrox on Saturday.

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