GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - FEBRUARY 12: Celtic fans unveil a banner which reads 'show Israel the red card' during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off first leg match between Celtic and FC Bayern Munich at Celtic Park, on February 12, 2025, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Paul Devlin/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Celtic and UEFA breathed a sigh of relief tonight as Maccabi Tel Aviv were knocked out of the Champions League at the Second qualifying round.
After drawing 1-1 last week away to Cypriot champions Pafos the Israeli side lost 1-0 at ‘home’ in Serbia to go out on a 2-1 aggregate.
Macabbi goalkeeper Ofek Melika was sent off after half an hour with Pafos striker Jaja scoring in the 40th minute, 11 minutes of stoppage time were played in the first half.
There was no further scoring despite six minutes of added time with the Cypriot side facing Dinamo Kiev in the Third Round with those sides paied together for Monday’s Play Off draw.
? ?? Ferencváros eliminated ?? Noah!
? ?? Pafos eliminated ?? Maccabi Tel Aviv!
? ?? Pafos vs ?? Dynamo Kyiv in the Champions League – QR3!
? ?? Ferencváros vs ?? Ludogorets / ?? Rijeka in the Champions League – QR3! pic.twitter.com/HI68G0VwqC
— Football Rankings (@FootRankings) July 30, 2025
In 2016 Celtic were heavily fined by UEFA due to the mass displaying of Palestine flags during the Champions League Play Off against Haporl Be’er Sheva, Celtic edged through 5-4 with no major incidents in the return leg.
Since October 2023 the temperature has risen on that issue with Celtic fans earning recognition worldwide for their support of the Palestine people.
A Champions League Play Off tie was a possibility going into tonight with Celtic in the seeded half while Macabbi’s co-efficient gave them a seeded route to the Play Off.
That possibility is now off the menu, on Monday the Play Off draw will be made with Celtic due to face Basel, Sturm Graz or one of three teams winning through the Third Round qualifier with the paired teams being Pafos/Dinamo Kiev, Slovan Bratislava/Kairat and Quarabag/Shkendija.
Are you happy with Celtic's transfer activity
Absolutely- fantastic business
I will judge on September 1
Horrific- feels like 2023 again
Good to see Sevco flying the flag for Scotland in Europe. Showing ambition by purchasing players. Celtic, once more will be hamstrung by the Desmond and Lawwell desperately making sure we make zero progress and collect as much of our cash as possible.
What a retarded comment. Why has this page allowed a Sevcovian to comment haha
Ok lets break that down a little the tramps in blue have bought 5 bargain basement players and 2 loans.
Celtic have brought in 6 players and a 7th all be in a loan to announced this week.
As of Europe erm I think Celtic are in the same position as The Rangers 2014
Aye Jim and one of sevcos bargain basement buys has just guaranteed them Euro football till at least January,and our board continue the low ball derisory offers which get knocked back and make us look like the paupers of Scotland,I hope we qualify because these CL qualifying ties are never that straightforward easy as we like to think.
Eh Jim are you dumb? Rhetorical question. On that context Celtic ALSO guaranteed European Football until January so what is your point and how many accounts does one need to make.
What offers? Are you referring to the bid that Celtic put in for a GoAhead Eagles player over a month ago? An offer that almost equates to what the Buy Out close which gets activated in just under a year would be? So you think ANY Club is going to play £6.5M for a player they can get for just over £2M in 10 months time..hmmmm!
That story came about because they are desperate to offload him now and trying to market him. Celtic have been no where near the player for about 1 month, regardless of all the nonsense you read on social media.
Nearly ALL of Celtic’s signings have came with little or no prior knowledge or nonsense stories from the press.
Though two little boys in blue like think of a different narrative.
I cannot argue with your comment Murph.
Sevco are a club who take Europe seriously and they now have the initiative.
Got to agree with you there Pan ,and I can assure you I’m no Hun.
Hope they get beaten in their next tie !
Not going to mess about Here , absolutely raging this board are treating the fans like IDIOTS!! Spent 3 million pounds ? What the hell is going on? Nicholson and Lawell have got to F***OFF???