Celtic fans have come under fire after unfurling an anti-royal banner, while fellow Scottish team Rangers defied Europe’s football authorities by playing “God Save The King” before their Champions League matches.
Celtic drew with Shakhtar Donetsk 1-1 but most of the attention surrounding the match came in the stands.
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Broadcaster BT Sport was forced to apologise after the banner, which read ‘F— the Crown’ was broadcast in the Celtic section at Polish Arm Stadium.
“Apologies if anyone has taken offence to anything seen in the early minutes,” commentator Rob MacLean said.
Celtic’s players wore black armbands in the club’s first game since the death of Queen Elizabeth II last week in Scotland at the age of 96.
Meanwhile, Rangers face punishment from the UEFA for playing the national anthem ahead of kick-off in their 3-0 loss to Napoli.
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After a minute’s silence, Rangers players and fans joined together for a brief rendition of the newly worded national anthem.
One end of the stadium featured a mosaic of the Union Jack flag with a silhouette of the Queen’s head in the middle of the display.
There was also a banner which read “1926 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 2022”. UEFA allowed the period of silence and black armbands to be worn at all matches featuring teams from Britain, but Rangers went one step further.
“Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be honoured this evening at Ibrox with a minute’s silence, a display created by the Union Bears, and a rendition of the Nation Anthem,” Rangers said in a statement posted on Twitter.
Those actions are outside the parameters set by UEFA, raising the possibility of the Glasgow club facing a sanction from European football’s governing body.
Defeat for a 10-man Rangers team was sealed with late goals by Napoli substitutes Giacomo Raspadori in the 85th and Tanguy Ndombele in stoppage time.
Napoli has recorded back-to-back three-goal wins to lead Group A with six points. Rangers is in last place after losing heavily again. Liverpool beat Ajax 2-1 in the group on Tuesday.
While Celtic’s poor run on the road in the Champions League extended to just two wins in 34 away games, yet it had 17 attempts on goal and forced 21-year-old goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin to make eight saves.
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