UEFA HAVE OPENED disciplinary proceedings against Celtic and Linfield over incidents at last week’s Champions League tie.
Celtic’s Leigh Griffiths is charged by Uefa with “provoking spectators after the end of the match”, while Linfield are in the dock over objects thrown on the pitch and a “field invasion by supporters”.
Celtic are also accused of “improper conduct of the team (five cards or more)”.
“This case will be dealt with by the Uefa Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body on 20 July,” Uefa reported.
The second qualifying, first-leg tie won by Celtic 2-0 was held unusually on a Friday to avoid clashing with 12 July ORder Order parades two days before.
Scott Sinclair and Tom Rogic scored as Celtic won the encounter in Belfast which passed off largely without major incident, but missiles were thrown at Celtic corner takers Griffiths and Jonny Hayes from a Linfield section of Windsor Park.
And at the final whistle, a number of home fans attempted to access the pitch when Griffiths tied a scarf to the goalpost.
One supporter did make it onto the surface but was quickly ejected as police and stewards moved in to contain the situation.
Linfield are holding their own probe into coin and bottle-throwing by their fans.
Scotland international Griffiths was targeted by objects thrown from a section of the home crowd while taking a corner.
The striker was booked after picking up a bottle thrown onto the pitch, a decision Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers branded as “strange” before saying he would seek further explanation from the officials.
Linfield issued a statement after the match promising to punish anyone identified as being involved.
Police in Scotland are preparing for Wednesday’s return leg at Celtic Park.
Superintendent Craig Smith said a “robust policing plan” had been put in place following co-operation with the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
He added: “Anyone who is intent in causing disorder or hate crime can expect to be arrested by police. Let’s keep this match focused on the football.”
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UEFA are a joke of an Organisation.. For starters both Griffiths and Armstrong should have never been booked in the first place. Then charging Celtic because Griffiths tied a scarf to the posts. Maybe if their fans should a bit of respect he wouldn’t have done it. If football fans throw glass bottles at opposing players heads, i think having a football scarf tied around a post is fair game..
@David Garland: the riot squad are there protecting people and Griffiths act was pure provocation. In retaliation maybe but he was looking for a response and likely a violent one, which he would then leave others to deal with.
@David Garland: it was a stupid thing for griffiths to do. They maybe yobs but why engage them. Better to ignore them.
@Patrick O’Sullivan: he done it in front of the Celtic fans,celebrating. Every time he went to take a corner he was getting pelted with everything from coins to glass bottles, their fans are vile s(umbags simple as, and if a scarf being tied around a goalpost is justification for them trying to get on the pitch to attack a player then they should be nowhere near a football stadium. Absolute dregs of society the majority of them are!
@Jeremy McCarthy: to be honest i believe the quality or otherwise of the linfield fans is irrelevant. He should be able to rise above it. He won’t be much use to brendan rodgers if he gets a suspension for it.
@Paddy: For days we seen racist abuse aimed at Scott Sinclair on Loyalist bonfires. During the game everytime Sinclair touched the ball he was booed.. Nothing even mentioned about that. But the snowflakes get upset about a scarf tied around a post..
@David Garland: don’t think its upsetting that many david. The vile that comes from those who behave in such a manner should be dealt with by the proper authorities. Griffiths could be suspended or the club fined for something silly. Celtic are bigger than that nonsense. Rise above it and drive on to continued success. Let the knuckle draggers to it continuing to shame their communities.
He’s not in the team for his brains anyway.
Pity he didn’t wrap it around that orange yobs head,the bottle boy
Charged for 5 players being booked hahahaha
He knew what he was doing and would have been aware of the reaction. He has been involved in old firm games, hasn’t he? So what was he playing at? Griffiths might be able to go home safe in the knowedge he’ll get home but around the twelfth after a match like that with that sort of provocation some other poor sod might not get home safely. He knows not what he does.
*The scarf and Griffiths.
Idiot,Griffiths.Tying a scarf around a goalpost?What age is he?Seriously lacking in common sense.