Celtic return to Europa League duty on Thursday when they have arguably the most difficult tie of the competition so far.
Lazio in Rome was the one that caught the eye when the groups were drawn, and unsurprisingly thousands of Celts have made the journey.
But, oh, are they in trouble. that’s if you believe the media, that is.
A banner featuring wartime dictator Benito Mussolini in his last public appearance, where he was hung upside down alongside his mistress Clara Petacci was displayed by Celtic supporters. Which upset his granddaughter, who presumably didn’t quite know what her pops was all about having not been born until 1962, who demanded that there should be prosecutions and jail time handed out.
Extremist politicians tend to get a lot of airtime, so the Scottish media, happy to find something to harp on about after Peter Lawwell asked them to try to ignore the fans furore over his alleged complicity in the cheating by Rangers and the subsequent cover up by the SFA , duly obliged.
So much so that we get the impression that Il Duce still has some sort of underground battalion ready and willing to extract vengeance on anyone who has the gall to point out what a fat little shit he really was.
We’ve even had Celtic SLO John Paul Taylor issue a “Roaming in Rome ” list of do’s and don’ts …mostly don’ts to be fair..
FOLLOWING the important travel information for Celtic fans heading to Rome shared by the club last week, additional guidance has been provided to Celtic by Lazio and the City of Rome police for the forthcoming UEFA Europa League match on Thursday, November 7 in the Olympic Stadium (KO: 6.55pm local time).
After liaising with all the relevant authorities, we strongly advise that supporters making the trip to Rome read the guidance below before embarking upon their journey.
Alcohol
– No alcohol on sale in the city centre from 6pm on Wednesday, 6 November, until 7am on Friday, 8 November.
– Be aware that drinking alcohol on the streets will be prohibited and will incur an on the spot €100 fine.
Supporter Safety
– Stay in large groups where possible.
– Keep a low profile whilst in the city particularly in the evening.
– Avoid wearing club colours whilst walking around the city particularly in the evening.
Buses to the game
– Buses will be provided for fans from 2pm on Thursday, 7 November, from Villa Borghese.
– Stay patient whilst waiting on buses, these will operate on a shuttle service.
– Do not to take or consume alcohol to the meeting point for the shuttle buses.
– Under no circumstances should supporters make their own way to the stadium.
– It is important to comply with Police instruction at all times.
– Before boarding the buses to the stadium all fans will have to show their match ticket and will be searched.
Arrival at the Stadium
– Once at the stadium fans will be searched.
– Fans will be asked to produce photo ID before entering the stadium, this must contain name and date of birth.
– Bags will not be permitted in the stadium and there is no storage facility.
– All banners coming in to the stadium will be checked, only Celtic FC banners will be allowed.
– Banners containing any political message or symbols will not be allowed.
– Phone chargers will not be permitted in the stadium and there is no storage facility.
Post-match
– After the match fans will be kept in the stadium, this could be up to an hour or more, Police will decide.
– On exiting the stadium there will be buses taking fans to Termini on a shuttle service.
– Fans may wish to arrange taxis for uplift after the match to avoid delays travelling back to the city centre.
More travel information is available HERE
Consular Advice for fans travelling to Italy is available HERE
Whilst it appears to be a big deal, and the media are certainly making it sound like it is, much of that is common sense, given the Italian sides supporters reputation for engaging with opposition fans, but when you consider that Lazio have sold less than 20,000 for the game, and 9,000 have gone to Celtic, one wonders if they aren’t going a little bit over the top.
No drink I can understand, but no phone chargers ?
Derek Clark, of Talkshite Radio hit out…
Speaking of Mediterranean climes, how about this….?
Premiership champions Saracens will appeal against a 35-point deduction and £5.36m fine for breaching salary cap regulations over three seasons.
The punishment comes after an investigation into business partnerships between chairman Nigel Wray and some of the club’s players.
European champions Saracens described the sanctions as “heavy-handed”.
Both punishments have been suspended until the outcome of the appeal, leaving Sarries fourth in the table.
Some detail… from Chris Jones of the BBC.. no point in asking English, he’ll say trophies were won on the pitch and probably repeat the claims made by BBC buddy MacLeish about prising them from his cold dead fingers and so on…
This story revolves around Saracens’ owner Nigel Wray’s business co-investments with a handful of senior players, with the panel judging that the club have in essence been paying players outside the salary cap.
Wray disputes this and insists these dealings are all above board and are helping set up his players for life after rugby.
He says investment is not the same as salary. Either way, Saracens were found not to have disclosed the full details of the financial arrangements, which they have put down to an “administrative error”.
In 2015, Saracens were one of two clubs who reached confidential agreements with Premiership Rugby Limited – the league’s governing body – over salary cap issues.
The league was accused at the time of turning a blind eye to any misdemeanours, and wrote the slate clean to the dismay of some clubs.
Therefore, while Saracens have been under scrutiny for a while over their management of the cap, the latest findings only apply to the last three seasons and do not take into account the investigation of 2015.
But there certainly was a widespread determination amongst others clubs and players for Saracens not to get away with it twice.
Interestingly, which may explain why English has asked about title stripping, Jones goes on to say that he doesn’t expect that to happen, clearing the way for English and his chums in the media to use this as a precedent to dismiss any claims against the old Ibrox club.
Could the club lose their titles?
As it stands, no. The punishment only applies to this season and not retrospectively. Saracens are confident they will not be losing any of their eight major titles – five Premiership crowns and three European Champions Cups – won in the past decade.
English, of course, stands accused of having form when it comes to trying to dictate opinion…
We haven’t had a caption to comment on for a while, so let’s do one today…
Sinn Fein’s new candidate for Belfast North vows to cast Nigel Dodds into the fires of hell and deliver a remain victory.
Pope Francis “Hail! Hail! the Celts are here!
“I’m sorry to I’m late” Said His Holiness after The Scottish Polis pulled the Popemobile in for a search near Perth
El Papa gets ready to welcome the Bhoys to Rome
Bobby Maddhun jumps on pope mobile and is ready to pull out the red card!
Caption: Is that alcohol you are smuggling in El Papa? Eh… no…it’s the blood of Christ
M67 9.10am
Not funny at all. In fact,blasphemous.
This is an example of the transportation which the Celtic support will require in Rome tonight K. Jackson
Caption
IL PAPA looks forward to a record sum in the collection plate over the next few days.
STEVEN R
If IL PAPA still had the transport available to previous Popes-the famous sedan chair of yore as told by Billy Connolly-he could have been out on the lash last night with The Bhoys.
“C’mon the hoops,get tore into those facist bastards, Domini sit semper vobiscum.”
I have seen both Roma and Lazio at the Olympic stadium and was struck by the police presence, they don’t negotiate, Italian or rather Roman police, and they don’t do gallows humour either.
I hope the bhoys are safe , Lazio supporters seem pretty evil to me, whether they go trophy hunting I don’t know but I just hope guys wearing the colours stay together and look after each other.
Caption: ‘Tickets! Tickets! I’ve two spare. Great seats. Tickets! Tickets…..’.
Ralph, welcome back by the way.
It will be interesting to see if the media report on Res12 discussions at the AGM.
Last year one unhappy shareholder did get a mention, so if there are a lot more unhappy, nay angry shareholders voicing their opinions, you would expect some mention.
However with Scottish journalists including those with Celtic leanings who have been well briefed in the past saying nothing, never mind those leaning the other way, I wouldn’t bet on it.
There`s one certainty, the crawler who always voices his support for Lawwell will be there.
Cole, there’ll be loads of place-men, we KNOW. We also know that even if the floor carries the new Res 12, it wont be enough.
Celtic FC (not PLC) NEEDS us supporters to take over. The tory scum are always prepared to run, when push comes to shove, and they’ve no other credible option.
CELTIC FC (not PLC) supporters the world over, vote for decency, vote for truth, vote for our heritage, vote for the Res 12 guys, my goodness, do I really have to PLEAD for this?
A CLUB LIKE NO OTHER with SUPPORTERS LIKE NO OTHERS and SCUM in the Board-room? WHY?
Let’s begin with backing the Res 12 guys and carrying on to oust the scum whom conjoin with the SFA, SPFL and New Club in CHEATING day-by-day. ENOUGH, I say, ENOUGH.
HH
Sublime.
Callum McGregor has signed a new five-year contract.
A wee gift,if you will.
El Papa arrives for his audience with Paul the Tim.
Caption
The shuttle bus has been unveiled -2 in the front and the other 9000 in the back
Are the rumours true that all of the 9000+ supporters are to wear a David Moyes mask, Celtic FC tie and collar?
Caption,After losing his job ,money and respect with Sevco fc stevie g takes a job driving our Holy Father ,H H
FCK LAZIO!
sevco Orctec/Sports FC.
Given the precedent set surely the SPL will enforce a 35 point penalty on rangers given their insistence that they are the same club. Aye as if.
Caption:
Sevco parade new signing under ‘Everyone, anyone’ initiative
Winner- absolute belter 🙂
Caption.
As he looks on from his car, the Pope announces,
“Roma, it is green and white”
Pope Francis out ti meet his Hero Paul the Time…got tickets for tomorrow…going to be in the Lazio end unfortunately. No entrance allowed with British passport…so me and my Bro using our Irish Ones…where are the Celtic season ticket holders going to be? Tribuna monte?
It is much easier to vote by Proxy online by using your AGM Attendance Card. All your information is on the card, you just type in..
http://www.investorcentre.co.uk/eproxy and type in your preferences: I.E. vote for Res.12.
Nominate The Chairman to cast vote on your behalf but be sure to put x in For box to make sure it is to support the Res not the Board who are against it.
Done X 2.
Caption: An infallible man’s day is made when Charlie Saiz gets a wave from the Pope.
Caption:
Pope Francis wonders about the steward’s choice of footwear.
Caption: ‘bye bye rangers’
Pope uses his own shuttle bus(no phone charger outlet) to watch his Beloved Celtic shame lazio
Pope Francise tells Paul the Tim and Eddie Toner “get that tent doon and get tae fuck!”
#onefortheCelticDads
Caption :Halloween parade in Larkhall
Are we not Albanian girls?
We are Devo.
Are we not Albanian girls?
D-E-V-O
Are they seriously charging £47 for The Scottish Professional Football League Mickey Mouse Cup at The Scottish Football Association`s newly purchased ground.
What a bunch of scabs.
Caption.
Il Papa tries out new Moonmobile for the very, very,very long trip to convert the heathen Martians, Moonies and Mysteries.
Mysterons!!!
Caption – up the RA!
‘think about Albania instead of Spain, the USA , Turkey or anywhere else where the light of freedom is dimmed due to oppressive dictatorships..’
A bit silly.
Undermines any serious comment.
Fincantieri?
Caption:
Franny`s here for Terry Munro.
do you think if there was no banner at Celtic park that a trip to Rome to play Lazio would be any different? no it would be exactly the same
CS, shut up ya dck!
There are those in the media willing violence against our fans.
Utter scum, including anyone on here with the same view.
Yes – they are fascist thugs always looking for a fight. Maybe we could be nice to them instead. Don’t be daft CS banner or no banner Celtic or any other team they are spoiling for trouble. Maybe you can go to the new den and be nice there too?
Could someone let Monti know that Efe Ambrose’s to return. I`m not!
caption
nope, I cant see the rangers coming that way either
Caption:
” Here we go again, we’re on the road again “
Derek Clark@derekclarksport
What I don’t understand is the reasoning behind the banner? Surely you want something supporting the team?
It`s a plot Derek.
Caption: Pope, “I’m gonnae be ‘Frank’ here, any of you scummy Lazio huns lays a finger on any of those bhoys in green, if yer LUCKY ye’ll end up in that hospital behind me, ged it?”
Hope things are looking up, Ralph, good Diary.
HH
Caption
Pope Francis:
“All together now”
“We’re on the one road, laughing at huns loads”
“They’re on the road tae God knows where”
“We’re on the right road, they’re on the wrang road”
“The road tae ruin but who cares?”
“Auld huns, young huns, thick huns all”
“Let Dave pish their cash against the wall”
“We can get Charlie Saiz tae come along”
“Singing a Soldier’s Song”
🙂
RPG… YET ANOTHER BELTER
FFS Weered, ye already know that it SHOULD be RSP, not RPG, a Rocket-Propelled-Giro fur the dossers around the Govan shit-hole tae piss up, congregate and crowd-fund a few stabbings rather than feed their wee weans! FFS!
“Let it be”, aye, let them just die. Amen.
HH
TicToc RPG = Rhymimg Prose Genius
CS,what you have for when the present board leave donate it now to The Foundation Christmas Charity Appeal.
Who ever thought that shield at the front and no cover at the sides would protect his holiness from harm needs fuckin sacked.
Caption: Happy Birthday Celtic in about them COYBIG
Happy Birthday and God Bless the Celtic .
Our founding fathers we thank you for giving us this great club and the joy we have witnessed along with the tragedies along the way.
We remember all of our heroes who gave their all.
You protected us fought for us and demanded we were treated with respect. Peter We only want the same today if you cant do it fuck off and let someone who will.
Caption:- Pope Francis- ” Fuck the Lazio, Fuck the Lazio, Fuck the Lazio, Fuck the Lazio, Fuck the Lazio “