The Offical Glasgow Celtic thread

[T Fearon]

It was inevitable this would happen.Healy didnt help matters by speculating even before draw was made that Linfield could rely on a lot of away support in Glasgow should the tie come to pass.

Sadly this tie will be remembered for all the wrong reasons.

[michaelg]

It was inevitable this would happen.Healy didnt help matters by speculating even before draw was made that Linfield could rely on a lot of away support in Glasgow should the tie come to pass.

Sadly this tie will be remembered for all the wrong reasons.

Big f**king deal.  Even if some Rangers fans did go to the fixture in Glasgow, how is this different from them attending an Old Firm game? 

[Hectic]

Try coming into the real world for a while. The worst elements will attend both matches on a free ticket to act the gype. Yes given we had pitch invaded and golf balls thrown at our players the last time we were at Ibrox it will take a bit of beating. But is akin to someone going to a fancy dress party and playing up to a whole new level. If folk were going to watch their team play Celtic the focus would be on seeing their team stick it to Celtic with the rest as decoration. Going to watch Celtic play another team where there will be no hope of a victory will be an exercise in provocation, destruction and hate only. There is the difference.

[T Fearon]

The big deal here is the biggest club in Scotland not feeling able to let its fans attend a game in another City in the "U.K",at a venue which hosts international football.This is all the more ironic given that this same Scottish club appeared in the same City,at a smaller ground,four years ago with no trouble whatsoever.

Healy was insinuating that Rangers and Linfield were "first cousins" and the comment was unnecessary and inflammatory,not to mention laughable as at the height of the troubles Rangers refused to let any of their players play for a Scottish League select against an Irish League select at Windsor Park,due to safety fears,incurring the wrath of the Linfield board at the time,who issued a statement at the time appealing to their fans never to go and watch Rangers in Scotland again!😂😂

[tonto1888]

I would buy this stance from the board if they had done he same thing when we went to Israel, not too far from the Gaza Strip. If they had done he same thing when we went to turkey a week after a bomb on the metro. If they had done the same thing when we went back to Ajax, after some of our fans did actually get injured the previous year. This is about saving themselves from a potential UEFA ban. Nothing more

[T Fearon]

I agree.They simply dont want to risk the name of the club or any blame being attached due to the inevitability of sectarianism at Windsor Park.

I think it is a wise move.This will be a one sided game,a couple of goals will do,quieten the natives, and just get it over and done with.

[Applesisapples]

https://youtu.be/B9tatN3UTJk

This is why I believe Celtic are correct in not accepting tickets for this game in Belfast

For once I agree with you Irish League football and the IFA is still plagued by anti catholic bigotry.

[Hectic]

Yeah I support the idea as well - it would be a bad day if we got as far as pitched battles but still getting implicated in a sectarian sing-a-long in the eyes of UEFA is not what we need right now.  I remember that night in November when the then NI manager was orchestrating the Windsor crowd and the level of bile coming from the stands to make me have no appetite to head there for a game that will be defined in too many minds along religious/sectarian lines.

[Main Street]

For once I agree with you Irish League football and the IFA is still plagued by anti catholic bigotry.

Shamrock Rovers trounced Linfield twice at that time at home in Tallaght and away in Belfast.
That You Tube video is evidence of nothing.
Linfield fans at Tallaght are shown as being raucous with quite a few absolutely fluttered and legless, doing a half hearted attempt to celebrate a goal by a few running onto the sidelines and a rendition of the sash. The Gardai and security dealt with everything in a calm orderly respectful manner.
What was of concern at that time was the return game at Windsor Pk where trouble broke out between fans and loyalist press banner headlined "sectarian violence" and blamed Rovers' fans.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/sectarian-violence-erupts-at-windsor-park-during-linfield-clash-with-shamrock-rovers-29123445.html

But it could be said that Linfield fans behaved better at Tallaght than Rovers' fans did at Windsor Pk.
The fear is that Celtic fans at Windsor Pk would be dragged into something similar and bring the club into disrepute

[Hectic]

Indeed Main St and as I have said before it would not necessarily be the every week attending Linfield fans that will be the biggest problem but rather the day trippers for this game.

[ashman]

The Irish league is ranked 47 and San Marino is ranked 53 of 53. The Irish league teams have been poor these last few years and are generally poorly prepared .  The San Marino team have a chance here I would think . Neither then or Linfield are world beaters .

[T Fearon]

Linfield 2/11 to win at home this week.Crusaders got through a round in Champs League last year.

[red hander]

Any price on the size of the fine Uefa will hit Linfield with for sectarian chanting/banners?

[michaelg]

Any price on the size of the fine Uefa will hit Linfield with for sectarian chanting/banners?

Probably similar to what Celtic get fined, pretty much on an annual basis.

[Hectic]

Any price on the size of the fine Uefa will hit Linfield with for sectarian chanting/banners?

Probably similar to what Celtic get fined, pretty much on an annual basis.

For sectarian chanting/banners?