Brendan Rodgers has pleaded with Celtic’s ultras to keep the fireworks out of Celtic Park on bonfire night.
The Parkhead boss hopes to light up his Champions League campaign with a win over Bundesliga big guns RB Leipzig on Tuesday in Glasgow’s east end. But at a time when UEFA are clobbering clubs for the misuse of pyrotechnics – and with Scotland’s champions already facing a potential fan ban for next month’s clash with Dinamo Zagreb – Rodgers has urged the home support not to risk further sanctions.
When asked for his message to the stadium’s notorious North Curve, Rodgers said: “I think it’s just exactly what was said before – it’s not something that we really want to see. There is that sanction hanging over the club and we really don’t want that.”
Celtic were also carpeted with a 20,000 euros fine following the fireworks which were set off in the away end during a 7-0 thrashing from Borussia Dortmund as part of a major clamp down on pyros. UEFA disciplinary bosses have also closed down stands at a number of other clubs across the continent since the start of the new season.
And, on Saturday, the kick-off to Celtic’s League Cup semi final clash with Aberdeen had to be delayed by 15 minutes to allow smoke to clear after a similar display at Hampden. This time Rodgers is hoping it’s his players who are dishing out the rockets as they attempt to double down on a hugely impressive away day draw against Atalanta last month.
He said: “Red Bull Leipzig will be no different to the likes of Atalanta and Borussia Dortmund. They are a top team right at the top end of their league. They have everything you want in a top European side in terms of speed, strength, power and technique. But it’s a brilliant challenge for us and we’re really looking forward to it on the back of a really good result at Atalanta.
“I think we showed here in our first game that we can play football at the intensity that we want to. Then we obviously went to Dortmund and that was a really challenging night for us. “We’re obviously really grateful for the support we had after that. The supporters were really good for us on what was a really difficult night. That gave the players the energy and the confidence going forward.
“Like it is, you always have to learn and have to be better. We were that in Atalanta against a really, really outstanding team.
“So now we have the chance to come back home and be a full house, really look to bring our energy to the game, but also know that we’ll have to defend for a good period of the game as well and defend with the concentration and commitment that we did in Atalanta.”