Celtic are set to turn down the offer of tickets for the Champions League qualifier with Linfield on July 14 with a 5pm kick off.
Talks between the two clubs yesterday and Police Service Northern Ireland took place on Thursday with confirmation awaited from UEFA for the Friday night kick off.
In normal circumstances playing the match on a Friday night would be considered high risk but it seems that that date is the preference compared to the 11th or 12th.
The decision not to take tickets will be a blow to thousands of Celtic fans especially the large number that regularly travel over to watch Brendan Rodgers’ side from Belfast and across Ireland.
With tension in the air due to the peaks of the Orange marching season the game will attract massive security with Celtic deciding that getting fans in and out of Windsor Park is too much of a risk.
It’s likely that Linfield will insist on their full allocation of tickets for the return match at Celtic Park on July 18 or 19.
On Wednesday Linfield play La Fiorita of San Marino in the first leg of their first round qualifier with the return leg taking place on July 4.
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