Rangers legend Ally McCoist says a section of Celtic supporters are ‘becoming an embarrassment to the club’, with chief executive Peter Lawwell revealing their behaviour has cost the Hoops over €500,000 in fines.
The Scottish champions were fined £12,900 by UEFA on Friday after fans displayed an ‘illicit banner’ and sang obscene chants during their Europa League game at home to Lazio last month.
It was Celtic’s third charge of the season, and with a fourth hanging over the club after fans lit flairs during their win over Lazio in Rome on November 7.
That will be the 20th charge since 2007.
The Bhoys’ board have acted by closing a section of Celtic Park for Thursday’s Europa League clash with Rennes – rows A to M in the rail seating section which holds the club’s ultras, the Green Brigade.
And McCoist said they are only harming the reputation of their beloved club.
Speaking on Wednesday’s Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast, the former Rangers and Scotland striker said: “They’ve got to start behaving themselves.
“You [to Celtic fan Alan Brazil] keep telling me every week that Celtic have the best travelling support in Europe, this that and the other…
“But, the fact of the matter is, they are proving to be a bit of an embarrassment to the football club.”
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Speaking at the club’s AGM, CEO Lawwell sent a strong warning for supporters to behave, saying the club will face stronger punishment from UEFA if the fines continue.
“Over the years in terms of UEFA, we have actually been fined over 500,000 euros and that can’t go on,” he said. “We have had to take action to prevent further possible stricter action from UEFA.
“We are all proud of our reputation around the world and I am sure the supporters are.
“For the vast majority of times over there (Green Brigade) it is colour, atmosphere, energy and youth and it’s fantastic but there are times when a small minority let us down.
“The unfortunately concerning thing for us, is that they don’t seem to believe they are doing anything wrong.
“So in terms of overcrowding, pyrotechnics, abusive banners, abusive singing and alcohol in the stadium, these are things that just cannot go on.
“The reputation thing, for me, is important. You see a banner or hear a song and your heart just sinks.
“That’s not who we are and it does give our enemies the opportunity to class us the same as other clubs and portray us as two side of the one coin which we are not. We are different.
“But again, unfortunately, a small minority are a challenge.
“A challenge in terms of safety inside the stadium and also protecting that reputation of our magnificent club.
“It is a difficult challenge. There are societal changes, there are people who come to Celtic Park and in some way show their frustrations in terms of their life, and there are societal issues in terms of alcohol abuse and drug abuse that manifest themselves at the football, social misbehaviour.
“For us, safety is everything here.
“We built the standing section, the rail seating for safety and we have to keep our people safe and we have to also protect our reputation.”