A Belfast based Celtic fan has urged fellow supporters not to go to Friday’s match with Linfield.
The match should have been played today or tomorrow but due to local celebrations of their hatred of Catholics the game has been put back to Friday on advise from the police.
Despite those concerns there appears to be an open door policy in terms of tickets with Linfield happy to sell tickets to anyone regardless of which team they support.
Celtic declined the opportunity to take tickets for the match but it’s believed that hundreds of hoops fans across Ireland have bought tickets for the match.
Responding to an article in Video Celts, Belfast Joe warned: “I’m sure that Celtic have been in communication with UEFA over this, highlighting the fact they have refused a ticket allocation and that they have advised fans not to attend.
“Hopefully Celtic have advised UEFA of their fears over Linfield selling tickets to anyone and have reiterated to UEFA that this fixture is Linfield’s responsibility but that they are acting irresponsible by their open door policy.
“Windsor Park is situated in south Belfast hemmed in by numerous red brick terrace house streets, similar to lots of English grounds,such as Goodison Park. It is not easy to negotiate to and from. I think there is a high risk that any Celtic fans will get involved in crowd trouble with Linfield fans.
“They will be goaded that’s for sure. I don’t want this to end bad for Celtic. The last thing Celtic need is another UEFA fine because UEFA will blame Celtic as well as Linfield, trust me ! “
Another fan, Willie Maher added: “This area of Belfast locally known as the village is a dangerous place for anybody NOT of the white Anglo Saxon Protestant persuasion at any given time not to mention during their God given right marching season , where they proudly bang their drums and fill the air with their sectarian drivel on the queens highways .
“I wonder does Lizzy know they fight,urinate and basically demolish it as well . Then again these are their traditions.
“Mark my words the whole stadium will be involved ,up to their knees etc but it will be reported as a small minority all beit a very loud one . Bit like a stadium I know over in Glasgow.”
While some fans may see it as a challenge and badge of honour to get into Windsor Park and support the hoops this is no ordinary situation. The Ultras and gangs of Istanbul, Milan, Warsaw and other outposts don’t have anything like the level of hatred that parts of Belfast holds for Celtic.
The host fans are used to getting their way- in no other part of Europe does a country come to a halt to allow one portion of the ‘country’ to celebrate their hatred and the murder of another sizeable part of the population.
For their home friendly with Hearts on Saturday Linfield were unable to attract more than 2,000 fans.
On Friday night a crowd of 15-18,000 is expected with PSNI believed to have contingency plans in place to house Celtic fans in a specific part of the ground.
