Tuesday 16 December 2014 21:13, UK
Celtic manager Ronny Deila hopes any UEFA punishment does not impact on their eagerly-awaited clash with Inter Milan after the club were hit with the latest of a series of disciplinary charges by the European governing body.
UEFA's control, ethics and disciplinary body will examine allegations of "crowd disturbances" among Celtic fans during last week's Europa League defeat against Dinamo Zagreb, in a hearing on February 19.
Celtic host Inter that night in the first leg of the knockout stages and any punishment could come before their trip to Milan seven days later.
A flare was lit in the visiting section during the game in the Croatian capital and there were other unconfirmed reports of a disturbance, although the only footage that has apparently emerged shows a policeman hitting a Celtic fan over the head with a baton.
Deila is desperate to avoid any potential ban on Celtic fans travelling to Italy following their sixth UEFA charge in a little over three years.
"That would be a big setback for us," he said. "Hopefully we get as many Celtic fans as possible to the game in Italy because that's important for us."
Celtic have twice recently been fined for what UEFA termed "illicit banners" - one a Palestinian flag and one featuring Irish Republican hunger striker Bobby Sands.
They have also been fined for incidents involving pro-IRA songs and fireworks at separate home European games as well as for incidents at an away game with Udinese which saw fireworks let off and the display of a banner insulting UEFA.
Deila added: "If we continue doing this we will get fines and things that are not good for the club, and a reputation as well. We need to make this stop so we can concentrate on football.
"We are not feeling good about this. But it's a small minority of the fans that's doing something. Overall my impression is that they are fantastic fans."
The news failed to dampen Deila's enthusiasm for their impending meetings with the team Celtic beat in the 1967 European Cup final.
"It's maybe the biggest club we could get and we are excited and really looking forward to the games," Deila said.
"I know about '67 of course so it's a historic moment as well.
"It's two big teams coming together and having a real, real fight. We will have a full stadium at Celtic Park and create that atmosphere to push the team forward and hopefully win the game."
