Pyrotechnics or the use of fireworks at games has been a major talking point across Europe, not just at Celtic.
Celtic have previously been punished by officials for the supporters’ use of pyrotechnics, but perhaps nothing comes close to what happened in Amsterdam over the weekend.
On Sunday, Ajax were supposed to take on Groningen in the Eredivisie at the Johan Cruyff Arena.
But before the game could get started, the Ajax fans decided to let off fireworks inside the ground, and it caused chaos.
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Should the use of pyros be allowed?
Ajax’s game against Groningen abandoned, days after Feyenoord’s ban vs Celtic
Dutch journalist Marcel van der Kraan explained how Ajax’s league clash against Groningen had to be abandoned, because of the fireworks going off, with everyone ‘really baffled’ by what went on.
It has been stated that the referee called it an ‘absolute scandal’, as van der Kraan also used Celtic’s win against Feyenoord as an example.
Parts of Feyenoord’s stadium were closed off because of their previous use of fireworks.
And even during Celtic’s game against Feyenoord, fireworks were let off from outside the ground.
Either way, whilst Celtic feel the wrath of officials in Scotland, it’s nowhere near as bad as what’s happening in the Netherlands, as Dutch journalist van der Kraan explained.
“We have never really seen anything with the impact like this,” said van der Kraan. “We have had fireworks before.
“Fireworks have been a very disturbing factor at many games in the Netherlands over the years. Is it a bit of a cult in the Netherlands? Yes.
“The Feyenoord fans light up their stadium with a lot of fireworks for every European game. Last Thursday, Feyenoord had to play their game against Celtic with a quarter of the stadium, with closed stands. Nobody was allowed to be in the back end. The whole Kop End of Feyenoord’s stadium was empty, because of fireworks in earlier matches.
“UEFA punished them heavily for that. Not for the first time. Maybe for the tenth time. Maybe for the 20th time.
“But what we have seen at Ajax this weekend, that really, really baffled everyone. It baffled the players. The players were scared. Baffled the referee. The referee says, ‘It’s an absolute scandal. Never known anything like it.'”
Ajax game gets played behind closed doors…
In the end, Ajax’s game against Groningen was played behind closed doors on Tuesday, which helped nobody’s cause.
Ajax, who have lost every game in the Champions League this season and recently sacked their manager, Johnny Heitinga, picked up a much-needed 2-0 win.
Celtic summer transfer target Kasper Dolberg came off the bench and played four minutes, as he has scored only one goal on his return to Ajax so far.
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