UEFA’s hardline pyro stance with three member clubs should serve as a warning to Celtic fans

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Celtic fans’ use of pyro at football grounds hit the headlines again this week after the club were fined by UEFA.

Celtic released a statement last night after UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) hammered the club with a €20,000 (£16,670) fine and a suspended one-game away supporter ban at any of the governing bodies tournaments.

The suspended ban will be revoked if Hoops fans use pyro again in any of Celtic’s remaining Champions League fixtures this season.

Some people might say that this is no big deal. However, the European governing body has taken a hardline stance with three other member clubs this week for the same issue and it should be taken notice of by the Celtic supporters.

UEFA’s threatened partial stadium closure should be a warning to Celtic fans

The CEDB has also taken a hardline stance on the Elfsborg, LOSC Lille and Legia Warsaw fans who have been continually using pyro in UEFA’s club tournaments this season.

• Elfsborg: €50,000 fine and a partial stand closure (suspended for two years). *The stands behind the goal where the home supporters are located.
• LOSC Lille: €20,000 fine and a partial stand closure (suspended for two years). *The lower tribune in the South Stand.
• Legia Warsaw: €50,000 fine and a partial stand closure (suspended for two years). *The entire North Stand.

Celtic’s remaining Champions League fixtures

Celtic have probably got the best possible chance of making progress in the Champions League this season more than any other.

With another three home games to go against RB Leipzig, Club Brugge and Young Boys, Brendan Rodgers will be looking for a packed Celtic Park to help spur his team to crucial wins.

If the situation got so bad that UEFA felt they would need to partially close any of Celtic Park, there is only one area where they would be likely to focus on that closure. The North Curve.

The Green Brigade are so important in helping generate an intimidating atmosphere at Celtic Park on Champions League nights that it would be a crushing blow if they were locked out of any of the remaining fixtures.

Let’s hope it doesn’t come to this and the fans listen to what the club are asking and pay attention to how UEFA is now dealing with the use of pyro in any of their tournaments this season.