UEFA have handed Linfield a slap on the wrist for allowing season ticket holders and club members to pelt Leigh Griffiths with missiles.
A glass bottle of Buckfast narrowly missed the Celtic striker as he attempted to take a corner.
Police and stewards were marked absent from the incident with Griffiths booked for highlighting the bottle to the match referee.
This afternoon UEFA’s Disciplinary Committee fined the club €10,000 with a partial closure of the stand for their next European tie.
Linfield will collect €320,000 for reaching the second qualifying round.
Windsor Park was less than half full for the visit of Celtic meaning that the stand closure is meaningless. In the first qualifying round 2,839 fans turned up to watch a 1-0 win over La Fiorita leaving 15,000 empty seats.
In contrast to the ‘punishment’ handed out to Linfield Leigh Griffiths has been suspended for one match for tying a scarf to a goal post after the final whistle.
Linfield FC
• To order the partial closure of the Linfield FC Stadium during the next (1) UEFA competition match in which Linfield FC would play as the host club, and, in particular Linfield FC shall closed South stand lower sector I of the stadium.
• To fine Linfield FC €10,000
The charges against Linfield FC related to the throwing of objects (Art. 16 (2) of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations (DR) and a field invasion by supporters – (Art. 16 (2) DR).
Celtic FC
• To suspend the Celtic FC player Leigh Griffiths for one (1) UEFA competition match for which he would be otherwise eligible
• To fine Celtic FC €4,500
The charges against Celtic FC related to player Leigh Griffiths – provoking spectators (after the end of the match) – (Art. 15 (1) (a) DR) and improper conduct of the team (5 cards or more) – (Art. 15 (4) DR).
