A half-empty Windsor Park made for a pretty subdued deferred Champions League qualifier between Linfield and Celtic in Belfast on Friday evening.
Moved to the end of the week so that Celtic’s visit would not coincide with the 12 July celebrations, security concerns still meant that there were only 8,000 in the 14,000-capacity stadium, with about 400 Celtic fans making the trip.
Celtic won 2-0 but the major talking point after the game was Scotland international Leigh Griffiths being booked for time-wasting after he delayed taking a corner amid a flurry of missiles thrown from the crowd.
What was the ref thinking? https://t.co/OAAX29lGlU
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) July 14, 2017
The objects thrown at the Celtic star by the home support included an empty naggin of Buckfast (a fortified wine much-loved by students and old ladies with a dose of the lurgy).
Despite this irrefutable, glass evidence Griffiths was shown a yellow card by referee Alejandro Hernandez. The Linfield Twitter account did not go into any further detail on the incident at the time.
65 mins: BOOKED. Leigh Griffiths booked for time wasting.
— Linfield FC (@OfficialBlues) July 14, 2017
At least one of the Belfast club’s own supporters was very unhappy.
https://twitter.com/Banditzzz_TiC/status/885912697438601216
However, after the game, Linfield released a statement saying that they would investigate the matter and attempt to identify the perpetrators.
“The club will be reviewing our own footage and investigating an incident that took place during the match where a number of objects were thrown on to the pitch. We are obviously very disappointed that a small number of people chose not to respect the club’s wishes.
“Linfield FC strongly condemns these actions and will be taking all necessary steps to identify any individual who was engaged in this activity. The club takes the safety of fans, players and officials extremely seriously and there will be serious and lasting consequences for anyone involved.”
Griffiths, substituted not long after being booked, did not exactly win the home support over at the final whistle – when he tied a Celtic flag to one of the goals.
One man invaded the pitch in an attempt to confront Griffiths, however he was apprehended by stewards.
