POLICE have revealed the number of fans arrested at Celtic’s fiery Champions League clash with Aston Villa on Wednesday night.
Ugly scenes in the stands marred the match which the English Premier League side won 4-2.
Tensions were high before the game – the final fixture in the Champions League’s new-look eight-match ‘league phase’.
A sectarian banner was spotted on a motorway bridge near Birmingham, while Hoops ultras have been slammed for IRA chants in the streets of the city.
Fans clashed in the stands and outside the ground where a flare was thrown between rival groups during a pre-match disturbance near Villa Park.
And Celtic are awaiting a decision from European football’s governing body Uefa after a smoke bomb was lobbed onto the pitch in a separate incident inside the stadium.
West Midlands Police have now revealed 21 arrests were made for a variety of alleged offences including violent disorder and assault, drug possession, fraudulent tickets and throwing pyrotechnics.
Of those collared, 19 were Celtic fans.
Superintendent Jack Hadley said: “[On Wednesday] we welcomed Celtic fans to Birmingham for the Champions League game against Aston Villa.
“It was really great to have such a large number of visitors into our city. We put on a large policing operation to ensure all our visitors were safe.
“We had numerous resources on duty from motorbikes, dogs, public order officers and we’re especially proud to have horses back for the policing operation.
“They were a really versatile tool for us to use to engage with the Digbeth community yesterday afternoon, but also to support public order officers at Villa Park last night.
“It’s been really great to welcome Celtic supporters to our city. We’ve met some great people and had some really good engagement with people who have come and said hello to us.
“We’ve had a number of arrests for offences across the city but overall we’re really pleased with how the night has gone.
“We look forward to meeting more football fans visiting our city in the near future.”
The away support was hailed by hat-trick scorer Morgan Rogers for the atmosphere – but slammed for targeting Prince William in sick chants about the Queen and his brother Prince Harry.
However the Hoops also face an anxious wait over the smoke bomb thrown onto the park when Adam Idah scored in the first half.
The club were already walking a disciplinary tight-rope with competition organisers over fireworks among the fans at the clash with Borussia Dortmund.
They were handed an away trip fan ban – suspended for two years pending good behaviour back in October.
However club officials confirmed they HAVE been notified by Uefa and warned that could impact the glamorous knock-out round play-off with Bayern Munich next month.
A club statement warned: “As a result of the use of pyrotechnics during our match against Borussia Dortmund last year, Celtic Football 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 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.”
However Hoops fans still snapped up flights to Germany on dates around the game on February 19.
Brendan Rodgers was also asked if he was disappointed to – potentially – be heading to the Allianz Arena with no backing.
He said: “Very much so.
“We will wait to see what comes of that but it’s certainly not what you want to hear.
“For genuine Celtic supporters, who are bonded with their club, it’s the last thing they want to hear.
“For people who travelled for years, worldwide, home and away, that’s not what we would want.
“It’s been a culmination of things that have come our way as a club.
“I’m only hoping and praying that, for a game of that magnitude, or any game, that this doesn’t get taken away from the supporters that Celtic means everything to.”
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page