BRENDAN Rodgers last night admitted having a section of Parkhead closed in one of Celtic’s remaining Champions League group games would make it difficult for his side to overcome their opponents.
The Scottish champions are facing fresh sanctions from UEFA after one of their fans invaded in the pitch in the first half of the Group B match against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night and attempted to kick opposition striker Kylian Mbappe.
The Glasgow club has been disciplined by European football’s governing body 11 times in the past six years as a result of the conduct of their supporters – most recently following a game against Linfield back in July.
There are now fears that a meeting of UEFA’s control, ethics and disciplinary body on October 19 may decide to shut a section of their stadium as punishment for the latest incident. Celtic play Bayern Munich at home on October 31 and Anderlecht on December 5.
Rodgers, who has insisted his team is still capable of securing either a place in the last 16 of the Champions League or the last 32 of the Europa League despite the 5-0 loss to PSG, feels that would impact upon their chances of success.
“It is certainly not something that we would want,” he said. “I read an interesting interview with Peter Grant a while back. He was talking about the game against Atletico Madrid in 1985 (Celtic were forced to play a European Cup Winners’ Cup match at Celtic Park behind closed doors due to the behaviour of their fans in a fixture with Rapid Vienna at Old Trafford in the same competition the previous year).
“They went away and got a result (they drew 1-1), but then had to play in an empty stadium at home and actually ended up losing the game (they got beat 2-1).
“Our big advantage when we are a million miles away in terms of financial support is through the supporters. If we don’t have them then it could be difficult. It is something they might not look at, but there will be a question asked.”
Celtic closed the safe-standing section of Parkhead for two games following the Champions League qualifier against Linfield and Rodgers is hopeful UEFA will take that, and the fact the pitch invader was booed by his fellow supporters as he was led away by stewards, into account.
“The reaction in the ground at the time said it all,” he said. “Any UEFA official would have heard it. They know the goodwill around Celtic and Scottish football here and what has been achieved.
“The club are working very hard to ensure fan safety is in place and that Celtic Park is one of the great arenas for European football despite some of the things that happen.”
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