Celtic could face a fine from UEFA due to fans throwing tennis balls onto the pitch during their Europa League knockout playoff match against Stuttgart on Thursday. The incident caused a three-minute delay in the game at Celtic Park, with many fans protesting against the club’s owners, who have received increasing criticism this season.
Former referee Keith Hackett believes UEFA will be unhappy with the incident and may impose fines on the club. Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Hackett said, “UEFA will be unhappy that this incident created a stoppage in the game. The UEFA Match Delegate will report the matter, and it will be dealt with by the UEFA Disciplinary Department. Incidents like this have an impact on broadcasters, interfering with their schedules that they receive a great deal of income from sponsors. The fines that will be levied will depend on the previous record of the club.”
Celtic’s Europa League tie was already a disaster, with Stuttgart holding a 4-1 advantage heading into the second leg in Germany. The result was a far cry from last year’s Champions League campaign, where Celtic took Bayern Munich to the wire.
Manager Martin O’Neill was furious with the fans’ protest, saying it didn’t help the team and made it easier for Stuttgart to play. “Anybody who thinks that’s a good idea needs their heads examining,” he said. “There’s no question about it. It sends out totally the wrong message. We are playing against Stuttgart. The game is hard enough. The problem is, way back, some years ago, this was an incredibly intimidating place to come to. Incredibly difficult. I’ve managed here when sides like Juventus were scared stiff of coming here. Where top-class sides were scared stiff.”
O’Neill added, “That sort of thing does not help at all. There have been battles going on but that doesn’t help. All it does do, Stuttgart come to this wonderful football club and find a lot of in-fighting going on and things being thrown onto the pitch… it doesn’t make any great sense to me. If I’m a Stuttgart player, I’m thinking I’m pretty happy in this environment, if that’s the case.”