European Football Association disciplines Scottish team for anti-Israel demo

After fans of Glasgow’s Celtic soccer team broke the law and flew Palestinian flags at an August Champions league game against a visiting Israeli team, the Union of European Football Associations found the Celtic team guilty and fined it over its fans’ anti-Israel demonstrations.

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has fined Celtic 10,000 euros ($11,200) for its fans’ anti-Israel demonstrations at a Champions League game against Israel’s Hapoel Beersheba in August.

UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary committee found the Scottish champion guilty of a charge of displaying “illicit banners.”

The fans waved Palestinian flags, chanted anti-Israel slogans and held a demonstration outside the stadium. Police intervened when they attempted to assault Israeli fans.

Political banners and statements are prohibited in stadiums at UEFA-organized matches.

Celtic won the Champions League play-off first-leg tie 5-2.

Celtic fans often display Palestinian flags and hold anti-Israel demonstrations at domestic and European matches, though many more were brought for Hapoel Beer Sheva’s visit. UEFA fined Celtic two years ago when fans waved Palestinian flags at a game against Iceland’s KR Reykjavik.

The club’s fans have reportedly collected the funds to pay for the fine.

By: World Israel News Staff
AP contributed to this report.

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