Celtic fans could be barred from attending their club’s Champions League clash against Bayern Munich after UEFA charged the Scottish champions over pyrotechnic use in their recent match against Aston Villa.
The charge comes after a smoke bomb was thrown onto the pitch during Wednesday’s game in Birmingham. UEFA had previously issued Celtic a suspended ban on selling away tickets following similar incidents during their October fixture against Borussia Dortmund.
Club Issues Warning to Supporters
In response to the charge, Celtic released a statement urging supporters to be cautious when planning travel for the upcoming tie in Munich:
“The club will obviously make robust representations to UEFA and will make every effort to ensure that our fans can attend our next Champions League match. However, clearly, there is a risk that supporters may not be able to attend.”
Celtic also stressed that they are awaiting further clarification from UEFA before advising supporters on travel plans.
Suspended Ban at Risk of Being Enforced
If Celtic are found guilty, the existing one-match away fan ban will be automatically enforced. UEFA’s Control, Ethics, and Disciplinary Body will determine whether additional sanctions are warranted, though a decision is not expected until next week. The governing body is also likely to investigate banners and chanting from Celtic supporters during the match.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers was asked about the issue post-match but declined to comment.
Key Champions League Fixtures on the Horizon
Despite their 4-2 defeat to Aston Villa, Celtic had already secured a place in the play-off stage of the new Champions League format. They were drawn against Bayern Munich, with the first leg taking place in Glasgow on 11/12 February, followed by the second leg at the Allianz Arena on 18/19 February.
Whether Celtic supporters will be able to travel to Munich remains uncertain, pending UEFA’s final decision.
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