Keith Jackson has warned that blood could be spilled in Rome next week as a result of banners displayed at the Celtic v Lazio Europa League match.
UEFA have regularly punished Lazio for the racist actions of their supporters with part of the Stadio Olympico closed for the game against Celtic as a result of incidents during the Europa League game against Rennes.
Celtic’s Green Brigade made it clear that there was no place for fascists in football, or elsewhere, with that message clearly relayed at the Lazio match provoking much media attention.
Visiting football fans to Rome have been targeted for years with little action taken by the authorities after the initial condemnation.
Around 10,000 Celtic fans are expected to travel to the Italian capital but Jackson has warned them that further trouble could be in store on the back of the chants and banners at last week’s game in Glasgow.
In today’s Daily Record he explains:
Leave your politics at the front door? That’s precisely what these lame brains did when they brought their displays to the stadium’s security gate. The trouble is they were able to collect them and take them through the other side.
And that’s the crux of the matter because as a direct result of these banners and insults – and the Brigate Verde slogan was on show again yesterday – a target has now been painted on the back of each and every one of 9000 or so Celtic supporters who intend on following their team to Italy.
Every man, woman and child who makes that trip in Celtic’s colours has been put needlessly in harm’s way in order to pander to the ego of a section of the club’s supporters that appears to be a law unto itself and answerable to no one.
Leave your politics at the front door. That’s what Brendan Rodgers asked of them after they used his image in another terror-related banner designed to inflame Linfield’s travelling fans at another European tie a couple of years ago.
That one led to a UEFA charge and infuriated chief executive Peter Lawwell to such an extent he shut down the standing area for two games. But still they will not listen.
It is to be dearly hoped not a single drop of blood is spilled in the Eternal City in response to these banners but the risk factor is now through the roof because Lazio’s hooligans are a particularly loathsome and dangerous bunch.
In September 2014 Jackson was banned from press facilities at Celtic Park, that ban has since been lifted.