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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Christopher Jack

Rangers and Celtic discover UEFA fate after Champions League Queen displays

Rangers paid tribute to The Queen at Ibrox

CELTIC will face a UEFA disciplinary charge after supporters unfurled banners relating to the death of Her Majesty The Queen during their Champions League clash with Shakhtar Donetsk.

But the governing body will take no further action against Rangers despite the National Anthem being played at Ibrox ahead of the fixture with Napoli on Wednesday evening.

Rangers paid an emotional tribute to Queen Elizabeth II as a giant Union Flag tifo display and message - which was organised by the Union Bears - filled the Broomloan Stand ahead of kick-off.

A minute's silence was impeccably observed by the 50,000 strong crowd before a rendition of God Save The King was played over the PA system while players from both teams stood at the centre circle.

UEFA had previously denied a request from Rangers and Chelsea to permit the anthem to be aired and the Ibrox board risked a censure from the European rulers after defying that diktat from Nyon.

But it has now been confirmed that no action will be taken against Rangers for the tributes ahead of their 3-0 defeat to Napoli and a UEFA spokesman said: "The incident you refer to is not the subject of any UEFA disciplinary proceedings."

That is not the case for Celtic, however, and the Parkhead board now face an anxious wait to discover what punishment, if any, will be handed down for the pre-match display from their fans ahead of the 1-1 draw with Shakhtar in Poland.

A foul-mouthed anti-Crown message was emblazoned on a banner in the away section, while another referenced Michael Fagan, the man who broke into Her Majesty's bedroom at Buckingham Palace in 1982.

A UEFA spokesman said: "Please be informed that proceedings have been opened against Celtic FC regarding a banner displayed during their UEFA Champions League match against FC Shakhtar Donetsk played on 14 September in Warsaw. The UEFA disciplinary bodies will decide on the matter in due course."

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