CELTIC fans made a bee-line for Bavaria yesterday – even though they may be banned from their next Champions League match.
The Parkhead club were drawn against Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich in the play-offs for the knock-out phase of Europe’s premier footballing tournament.
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But the risk of a stadium ban hangs over the Hoops followers following a series of pyrotechnic offences in Germany and England.
Uefa had warned after an incident last October that fans of the Scottish champions would be banned from a European match this season if there was a repeat performance.
On Wednesday night, a smoke bomb was thrown onto the pitch from the visitors’ end at Villa Park in Birmingham during the club’s Champions League tie with Aston Villa.
And yesterday, minutes before the draw for the next stage was held, Celtic warned fans to be wary of booking up for the glamour tie in Germany later this month.
They said: ”As a result of the use of pyrotechnics during our match against Borussia Dortmund last year, CelticFootball Club was sanctioned by the Uefa Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body.
“The decision meant that, not only did the Club receive a fine of €20,000, but also that, if such behaviour was repeated at a match in the next two years, the club would be prevented from selling tickets to supporters for one away match in Uefa club competitions.
“Unfortunately, the club has received a further disciplinary notice from UEFA following the match against Aston Villa FC on Wednesday evening.
“The Club will obviously make robust representations to Uefa and will make every effort to ensure that our fans can attend our next Uefa Champions League match. However, clearly there is a risk that supporters may not be able to attend.
“In light of this situation, it is incumbent on the club to make supporters aware of this risk, when considering making arrangements for travel, until further information is provided by Uefa.”
That did not prevent fans selling out the best flight from Scotland which coincides with the Bayern game.
At 9am, EasyJet were selling the return flight from Edinburgh to Munich on February 18 for £301.
Just after 11am, when the draw was completed, the ‘sold out’ sign went up on the airline’s website for the outward trip and return on February 20.
Celtic fans raged at the culprit of Wednesday night’s offence on the website Kerrydale Street.
One fan, calling themselves ‘Sideline’ wrote: ”We have some in our support who will just not take a telling.
“Whether it be songs, smoke bombs or pyro they have to get their little kick no matter what without thinking of consequences.
“Now being reported that possibly no fans at out next away game, so one stupid action has ruined it for everyone else. Hope he is happy with himself.”
A fan going by the name Willy Wonka added: ”The person who threw the smoke bomb on the pitch is a special kind of stupid.
“If caught, they should face a life ban from every Celtic home or away game. Now there’s a high chance we won’t have any fans in Munich which is a real shame for the good fans who spend thousands of pounds watching us play away in Europe every season.
“The person knew we were on our final warning. What the eff were they playing at!”
Uefa are expected to come to a decision on any ban within the next week.
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