August 23 – Israeli police have pledged to crack down on any Celtic fans who display pro-Palestinian flags at tonight’s Champions League playoff second leg against Hapoel Be’er Sheva.
A hardcore group of fans defied Scottish authorities in the first leg by protesting against the Israeli occupation of Palestine with activists from the group Palestine Alliance handing out flags and leaflets to those entering the stadium.
“The police will ensure that the match is a professional event and not political,” said an Israeli police spokesman ominously.
Celtic fans have reportedly raised more than £90,000 for Palestinian charities in an attempt to match an impending UEFA sanction for last week’s protest.
The Green Brigade group of supporters set up an appeal on the gofundme.com website and donations have already passed £90,000.
The appeal read: “At the Champions League match with Hapoel Be’er Sheva on 17 August 2016, the Green Brigade and fans throughout Celtic Park flew the flag for Palestine. This act of solidarity has earned Celtic respect and acclaim throughout the world. It has also attracted a disciplinary charge from UEFA, which deems the Palestinian flag to be an ‘illicit banner’.
“In response to this petty and politically partisan act by European football’s governing body, we are determined to make a positive contribution to the game and today launch a campaign to #matchthefineforpalestine.”
Celtic face their ninth UEFA sanction in five years when the case is heard on 22 September. Two years ago the club was fined after a Palestinian flag was displayed at a Champions League qualifier against KR Reykjavik.
UEFA rules forbid the use of “gestures, words, objects or any other means to transmit any message that is not fit for a sports event, particularly messages that are of a political, ideological, religious, offensive or provocative nature”.
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