Football world rages over 'disgusting' scenes before Queen's funeral
Celtic fans have once again been condemned around the football world after chanting during a minute's applause for Queen Elizabeth and displaying a banner reading: 'If you hate the royal family clap your hands.'
The ugly scenes occurred at Celtic's Scottish Premiership clash with St Mirren, just hours before the late Queen's official funeral.
'LOVE THIS': David Beckham hailed for touching act for Queen
'UNACCEPTABLE': Queen Elizabeth's death sparks ugly backlash
Celtic's Australian coach Ange Postecoglou had previously said he hoped supporters would show their respect during the minute's applause ahead of the match at St Mirren Park.
"There’s a minute’s applause (on Sunday), we will abide by whatever obligations and responsibilities we have as a football club," he said.
"We will do that in a respectful manner. We want our supporters to do the same.”
However he refused to comment on the latest actions of fans during his press conference after the match.
“I addressed all that in two press conferences, I’m not going to do it in three,” he said.
“I get why the interest is there, but I’m a manager at a football club, and I sit at press conferences wanting to talk about football.
“We addressed that matter, we did everything we needed to do, it’s time we moved on.”
The Glasgow club is the subject of UEFA disciplinary proceedings after supporters displayed a banner reading “F*** the Crown” during Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Shakhtar Donetsk in Poland.
On Sunday, Sky commentator Ian Crocker said during the chanting: "Apologies if you were offended by anything you might have heard. Most showed respect, some did not."
St Mirren boss Stephen Robinson had also urged fans to respect the tribute.
“I don’t make those decisions on how we show our respect. It’s hard enough picking a team," he said.
“But if that’s what it is - a minute’s applause - then obviously we will respect that as much as we can as well.
“I can only speak for myself and for St Mirren. As a football club we will show our utmost respect, I personally will show my utmost respect.
“You hope that people have that respect during the game because someone has died.
“No matter what your beliefs are, I think it’s important that society respects that.”
Football world in uproar over 'disgusting' scenes
Other tributes during Saturday’s Premiership fixtures were also disrupted, with a minute’s silence at Ibrox overshadowed by booing and derogatory chants from some Dundee United supporters.
Dundee United later stated they had “reached out to advise our supporters of the pre-match arrangements with the expectation that the minute silence would be observed”.
Hibernian’s game with Aberdeen at Easter Road was also marred by audible boos and chants during a minute’s applause.
The Scottish Football Association had postponed all matches last weekend after the Queen’s death and gave all clubs the option of choosing whether and how to pay their respects this week.
In a joint statement with the Scottish Professional Football League on Monday, the SFA said: “This week, as a mark of respect and in keeping with the period of national mourning, home clubs may wish to hold a period of silence and/or play the national anthem just ahead of kick-off, and players may wish to wear black armbands.”
It isn’t Sky who should be apologising @CelticFC shame on you
— GioVanFrockhurst ❤️🇬🇧🏴 (@LauraBe36550188) September 18, 2022
To the Celtic fans who heckled in the stands & held up a sign saying "if you hate the royal family clap your hands" I would like to tell you on behalf of the rest of the nation, you are disgusting and disrespectful human being and have brought shame upon your club #QueenElizabeth
— 🐺 Know As AD 🐺 (@ad401ad) September 18, 2022
Celtic fans should be ashamed . I am disgusted
— Ellie 🌸🥂🇬🇧no DM’s please (@longman_elisa) September 18, 2022
I'm a celtic supporter, but it's stuff like this and the nonsense out in Poland on Wednesday that makes me ashamed to say that.
Can the club just ban the Green Brigade already? I dont think any decent fan worth their salt should have to put up with their nonsense shaming us all— BackOnThe_GRID (@BackOnThe_GRID) September 18, 2022
Disgusting from Celtic fans
— Dave Wright ⚒ (@davew70) September 18, 2022
celtic covering up their disgusting behaviour - nothing new. Horrible, vile club.
— Idb1969 (@idb1969) September 18, 2022
St Mirren 2 : Celtic 0. After the disgusting behaviour of their fans today, it’s wonderful to see Celtic getting exactly what they deserved. pic.twitter.com/ezTcDfMwPo
— Denis Mccarroll (@denboy372) September 18, 2022
Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.