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Celtic fans massively defied Uefa ban by flying Palestinian flags in match against Israeli side

Published 23:32 17 Aug 2016 BST

Updated 00:34 18 Aug 2016 BST

Ben Kenyon
Celtic fans massively defied Uefa ban by flying Palestinian flags in match against Israeli side

Homesport

Uefa look certain to come down hard on Celtic for defying a ban on political statements in games.

Not that it looks like Celtic fans gave a shit, mind. Hoops supported were repeatedly warned about waving Palestinian flags in the Champions League game against Hapoel Beer Sheva. Police even threatened fans with arrest over the matter, in the run up to the first leg play-off. But not even that could stop the Glasgow side's show of solidarity with the Palestinian state during the game at Parkhead which ended 5-2. Hundreds of fans were pictured holding up the nation's flag during the game. https://twitter.com/mephobia8/status/766020109005619200 Uefa explicitly bans fans from making political expressions and the waving of Palestinian flags could be viewed as extremely provocative, given the opponents. The Scottish club will now face a rap by the football governing body, which will almost definitely include a fine and even stand closures for games. It's not the first time that Celtic fans have incurred the wrath of Uefa. This would be the ninth time in five years the Scottish champions have fallen foul of the rules, according to the Daily Record. Everything from lighting of flares, illicit banners and chanting to inappropriate fan behaviour has cost the club more than £107,000. But this was the reaction on Twitter... https://twitter.com/2Ferdi7/status/766019857846591488 https://twitter.com/Indijanaa/status/766018439332913153 https://twitter.com/JohnnyUtah100/status/766015483149742081 https://twitter.com/MajidHaq/status/766014300897042432 https://twitter.com/jonnoholywood70/status/766012684726898689 https://twitter.com/leo_tague/status/766042154833772545 https://twitter.com/AN4S__/status/766040364381798401 https://twitter.com/BBCTomEnglish/status/766018932880932867 https://twitter.com/GLR_Clarke/status/766039567266742272 https://twitter.com/BjCruickshank/status/766039030714753025 https://twitter.com/Lazer2k/status/766037029197058048 On the latest episode of the GAA Hour Hurling Show Wooly and the lads reflect on a monumental weekend of action. Listen below or subscribe here on iTunes

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Celtic fans massively defied Uefa ban by flying Palestinian flags in match against Israeli side