Celtic urge supporters to end sectarian chants

Celtic chairman Brian Quinn has written to the club's 50,000 season-ticket holders, urging them to refrain from using sectarian songs and slogans.

With the exception of the highly-charged derby against Old Firm rivals Rangers, the champions have effectively eradicated such unwholesome behaviour at home matches but, ahead of a potentially explosive fixture against Hearts at Tynecastle on Sunday, Quinn decided to go public on his concerns.

As with Rangers, a hard core of the fans who travel to away games are of the unreconstructed variety. They are particularly likely to offend this weekend due to the perception among a section of the Celtic faithful that Hearts followers are merely "Rangers fans without the bus fare". Consequently, the timing of Quinn's missive is unlikely to be coincidental.

Rangers were fined £13,000 by Uefa this year and severely warned as to their future conduct when supporters were found guilty of sectarian chanting in the Champions League tie against Villarreal.

Uefa reserved the right to issue more severe sanctions for repeat offenders. These include closing grounds, playing in empty stadiums, deduction of points and, ultimately, disqualification from tournaments.

Celtic are rightly proud of the steps they have taken to improve the atmosphere at Parkhead but Quinn has warned that they may not be enough to escape censure.

"The behaviour of teams on the field, and of supporters inside and outside stadiums, is coming under scrutiny as never before. Offensive songs and chants have all but disappeared from Celtic Park and we're working with the Scottish Premier League authorities, the clubs and police to discourage the remaining cases of unwelcome chants at away grounds."

Hearts should seal their place in the final qualifying round of the Champions League, against AEK Athens, by eliminating Siroki Brijeg in Mostar tonight.

The Edinburgh club, who lead 3-0 from the first leg, flew to Bosnia in confident mood yesterday, even without injured playmaker Paul Hartley and target man Edgaras Jankauskas.

On their return Hearts are likely to sign Greek defender Hristos Karipidis from PAOK Salonika for £200,000.

Taken from telegraph.co.uk