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Will the Celtic board finally stand up for the club and fans after tonight’s Ibrox slur?

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Celtic fans have looked in in dismay in recent years as the club has been pushed around and treated like second class citizens- with barely a response from the board-room.

In the 2014/15 season we had the incredible situation of a player being banned for racial abuse on ‘the balance of probability’. Aleksandar Tonev, on loan from Aston Villa was the victim.

That same season a hard to believe decision by Steven McLean in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup against Inverness Caley Thistle amazed neutrals as a match referee, Assistant and Additional Assistant all missed a very clear hand-ball. After Celtic made their token statement the matter was laid to rest, a year later McLean was rewarded by being appointed to take charge of the Scottish Cup Final.

More than two years after the issue of the 2011 UEFA licence was handed to their Compliance Officer the SFA have still to deliver a decision. With no urgency from the Celtic boardroom their colleagues at Hampden could easily sit on it for another two years.

This time last year Celtic blasted out an angry statement about players being attacked in the Glasgow derby without any action taken. After calling for transparency Peter Lawwell told the club’s AGM in November that the matter had been resolved.

Tonight, an incredible slur has been made against the Celtic support.

After yesterday’s match there was no suggestion from Steven Gerrard that on Alfredo Morelos’ fifth appearance at Celtic Park he had been racially abused.

The striker is now back home in Colombia, late this afternoon his club played the race card putting a massive smear against the Celtic support.

An un-named Celtic spokesperson has responded, effectively asking for evidence to investigate.

If the allegation from Ibrox isn’t proven Celtic must demand a prominent apology. If this slur isn’t challenged and retracted the game is up.

If Celtic fail to stand up this time they are allowing every one of their season ticket holders to be branded racist. Surely we have reached a line in the sand for someone in the board-room to stand up for the club and the fans.

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