2011-12-15: Udinese 1-1 Celtic, UEFA Cup

Match Pictures | Matches: 2011 – 2012 | 2011-2012 Pictures

Trivia

• Europa Cup/UEFA Cup 2011-12
• Celtic out of Europe but give good account of themselves.
• Udinese are joint top of the Serie A in Italy only conceding two goals. Won all their home games domestically this season, so Celtic result is excellent.
• Celtic were fined a few days earlier for "illicit chanting", fined for singing "Grafitti on the Wall" song with add-ons of "Ooh ah up the Ra". Some Celtic fans held up a small banner in this match saying "**** UEFA"!
• Celtic being charged by UEFA for the banner & some flares being set off!
• Udinese chairman praises Celtic fans as amongst the best to visit…. (see pics page)
• Brown starts for first game in a long while. Lots of players out injured (Wilson, Matthews, Ledley etc)
• Possibly Fraser Forster best game!!
• A very empty stadium. Italians not interested in the match, and to be fair the Europa League does not seem to be working to get interest. A return to the KO system may be best.
• Di Natale was the big name on the pitch regarded as Italy's best goal scorer and a new golden boy.

Review

(PatMcCourt of KDS)
Proud of the players.

When we were placed in the group there was an almighty feeling of negativity and a lot of pessimism from the fans, granted this was probably due to our performance against Sion and our league form. So to take it to the last game and, indeed, to still being going for it with minutes to go was very pleasing.

Forster made three or four great saves, well done big man. The double stop from Di Natalie (I think) was outstanding.

Majstorovic and Wanyama both had good games at the back.

We all know Cha is not very good when given time on the ball. However, he always gives his best and it's not his fault he's being asked to play.

Mulgrew played alright and got forward when he could.

Forrest played well in the first half but hung onto for too long when there were better options in the second half.

Much like Cha, Brown is rather useless when given time on the ball and when he is played in the centre where he has to force the issue, something he is not very good at. If he plays, he has to play on the right.

Ki was lazy in possession and didn't work very hard for me. Wouldn't be too annoyed at seeing him leave as we've got enough resources in the midfield. He's got great ability but he doesn't put the work in and when you're playing central midfield for us 'graft' is essential.

Kayal played ok, didn't deserve to be taken off. Ki or Brown should've gone off instead.

Samaras had a great first half and as has been the case in his recent run of 'form' fell away in the second half. It was a real shame as he was so dangerous in the first half. Great through ball for Hooper's chance and great run at the goal. No one will catch him when he starts to run at pace, I don't know why he doesn't do this more often.

Hooper was excellent. Hold-up play was great all night. He's a really intelligent player.

Pleased with the performance, just wished we would've believed in ourselves a bit more in the second half and had a bit more of a go. If Samaras had been as effective as he was in the first half then the result may have been different. We should've had a penalty at the end.

Teams

Articles

• Match Report (see end of page below)

Pictures

• Match Pictures

Forum

• Pre-match
• Match
• Post Match

MOTM

• Voting Thread
• Result Thread
• Winner –
• 2011-12 Winners

Stats

Articles

Udinese 1 – 1 Celtic: Valiant effort not enough as Celtic’s Euro adventure ends

The Scotsman

Published on Friday 16 December 2011 02:02

CELTIC may have entered the Europa League group stage by the back door this season, but they made their exit from the tournament with heads held high last night.

A historic maiden victory on Italian soil proved beyond Neil Lennon’s team as Udinese secured the draw which was all they required to qualify for the knockout phase.

But off the pitch, Celtic could be in fresh trouble with Uefa after their supporters let off flares before kick-off and unveiled a profane banner directed at European football’s governing body which fined the club £12,700 this week for illicit chanting at an earlier Europa League tie.

Gary Hooper’s 29th-minute goal gave Celtic a tantalising glimpse of the outcome they desired, but a wretched error from Cha Du Ri in first-half stoppage time allowed Antonio Di Natale to equalise for the Serie A co-leaders.

On the balance of play, a share of the spoils was the least Udinese deserved, especially from a second half which saw Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster make a series of saves to keep the visitors’ hopes alive.

Yet it was Celtic who ended the evening on the front foot, almost snatching a dramatic winner in the 89th minute when Ki Sung Yueng saw a close range shot blocked. The sight of Udinese players resorting to time-wasting tactics was an indication of the nervousness caused by Celtic’s resilient finale to the contest.

A European campaign extended by Sion’s expulsion from the tournament is now over for Lennon, but he will feel it has been a significant and often rewarding experience for both him and his players.

It was an evening when Celtic felt they could not afford to be wasteful in front of goal against opponents with one of the most formidable home defensive records in European football.

When Hooper missed a gilt-edged opportunity during one of Celtic’s best spells of a highly encouraging first half, it would have easy to assume he would not be presented with a better chance all evening.

Happily for the English striker, preferred as the focal point of Celtic’s attack to Anthony Stokes, he was able to compensate with the breakthrough goal which placed the visitors in such a promising position. The lead was Celtic’s reward for a tactically diligent performance on a night which saw Georgios Samaras and James Forrest constantly interchanging positions as they provided intelligent and energetic support for Hooper.

Hooper did not make the most auspicious start to the game, collecting a booking in only the fourth minute for a late and dangerous tackle on Udinese midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah which some referees might easily have interpreted as an ordering-off offence.

Celtic caused Udinese’s three central defenders considerable discomfort in the opening exchanges, notably through the strong running and smart movement of Samaras. The Greek international was unfortunate to be penalised for a foul on Danilo when he surged into the Udinese penalty area in the seventh minute, having seemed merely to hold off the Brazilian defender’s challenge.

The presence of Di Natale in the Udinese starting line-up came as something of a surprise, given his previous minimal involvement in their Europa League campaign, and the home side’s captain did not take long to post warning of his threat.

Celtic skipper Scott Brown, making his first starting appearance since recovery from ankle surgery, conceded possession cheaply in midfield to allow Udinese to launch a swift counter-attack. The impressive Asamoah found Di Natale in the clear with a fine through ball, the veteran striker lobbing it over the advancing Fraser Forster but narrowly wide of the goalkeeper’s left hand post.

Forster was forced into his first save of the night in the 21st minute, dealing comfortably with a long-range strike from Asamoah after his defence were unable to properly clear a Di Natale corner.

Two minutes later, Udinese keeper Samir Handanovic should have been beaten at the other end when Hooper perpetrated his woeful miss.

Tremendous work from Samaras, bustling beyond Mehdi Benatia into the penalty area, created the opening as he threaded a precise pass to Hooper on the right of the six-yard box. It was the type of chance Hooper converts instinctively in the SPL, but he seemed to delay his shot on this occasion and managed to pull his right-foot shot wide of Handanovic’s right-hand post.

Forster had to make a decent save at the other end, dropping to his right to keep out a Di Natale shot, before Hooper made up for his earlier aberration with Celtic’s 29th-minute opener.

Udinese were reduced to ten men at the time, waiting for a break in play to send on Giampiero Pinzi for the injured Emmanuel Badu, when Samaras sprang into life once more down the left.

He surged into the penalty area and his driven cross was beaten out by Handanovic, only for the ball to strike defender Joel Ekstrand and rebound into the path of Hooper. Celtic’s leading goalscorer tapped home from a couple of yards out.

It was a shock for Udinese, while Celtic looked assured with an advantage they should have maintained until the interval. Unfortunately for Lennon, the tone of his half-time team talk had to change when Udinese snatched their stoppage-time equaliser.

It came from a blunder from Cha, the South Korean full-back weakly heading an attempted clearance straight to the feet of Di Natale. The striker, who may have been in an offside position when the original cross came into the penalty area, seized on Cha’s loose play to smash a shot beyond Forster from around seven yards.

Although a draw was sufficient for Udinese to qualify, there was no reduction in their attacking intent after the break, when Forster made a double save, first parrying away Di Natale’s long-range shot and then blocking Isla’s header.

Celtic were living dangerously, but almost grabbed a second goal themselves in the 75th minute. Cha latched on to a poor clearance from the home defence and drove in a right foot shot from 20 yards which struck Handanovic’s right post. The ball rebounded against the goalkeeper’s back and rolled towards goal but he was able to retrieve it.

The match was increasingly open and it required heroics from Forster to keep Celtic in contention ten minutes from time. He made two superb close range saves from Di Natale in quick succession, from a close-range shot and then a header.

Udinese1-1Celtic

Page last updated at 22:08 GMT, Thursday, 15 December 2011
By Martin Conaghan

BBC Scotland Antonio Di Natale levelled for Udinese on the stroke of half-time Celtic failed to reach the last 32 of the Europa League despite a spirited draw at Serie A high-flyers Udinese.

Gary Hooper opened the scoring inside 30 minutes with a close-range tap-in that was cancelled out on the stroke of half-time by Antonio Di Natale.

Celtic keeper Fraser Forster kept the visitors in the tie with a fine string of second-half saves and Celtic's Cha Du-Ri was denied by the woodwork.

A late claim for handball in the Udinese penalty area was waved away.

The draw sends Udinese through to the knockout stages as runners-up behind Group I winners Atletico Madrid, who ended their campaign with a 3-1 win against French outfit Rennes.

Scott Brown started for the first time since recovering from an ankle injury and, with Glenn Loovens ruled out with a hamstring injury, Victor Wanyama was moved back into defence. Midfielder Ki Sung-yueng also replaced striker Anthony Stokes, leaving Gary Hooper as the lone frontman.

Meanwhile, Udinese boss Francesco Guidolin fielded a strong side with top-scorer Di Natale leading the line.

Celtic enjoyed an early spell of possession and James Forrest tried his luck from distance in the first five minutes with a shot that failed to test Udinese keeper Samir Handanovic.

A slack back-pass from Brown left Celtic keeper Forster in no-man's land as Di Natale powered down on goal, but the Italy international was far too casual with his flick on and the ball drifted wide.

With 23 minutes played, Hooper had a wonderful opportunity when Samaras played him through on the right-hand side of the Udinese penalty area but the Englishman struck past the post from six yards.

Forster was called into action when Di Natale powered in a right-footed effort from the edge of the Celtic box that the keeper parried wide.

Shortly before the half-hour mark, Hooper scored an unlikely goal after Samaras crossed from the left, the ball rebounded off Udinese defender Joel Ekstrand before the striker tapped in from close range.
Hooper missed a good chance shortly before opening the scoring Thierry Doubai warmed the hands of Forster with a curling effort as half-time approached, then another Samaras run at the other end fizzled out with Hooper waiting on the penalty spot for the through-ball.

Then on the stroke of half-time, Di Natale struck a blow to Scottish hopes, leaving Forster no chance with a clinical volley from close range after Celtic failed to clear their lines.

Kwadwo Asamoah should have done better with a long-range effort that sailed horrendously wide of the Celtic goal in the 52nd minute, before Di Natale's low drive was blocked on the six-yard line by Daniel Majstorovic.

The hosts pressed for a winner and gave Celtic further scares as the match entered the final 20 minutes, Di Natale sending a good chance over the bar and Asamoah striking the woodwork.

At the other end, Cha hit the post with an 18-yard volley before being booked for a challenge on Pablo Armero.

With 10 minutes remaining, Forster kept Di Natale out with a fine double-save as the Italians continued to hit Celtic on the counter-attack, and in the dying minutes the travelling fans were on their feet claiming a penalty for handball, but the referee was not persuaded.

A succession of corners for Celtic in the final minute of added time failed to produce the winner that Neil Lennon's men required to reach the next round.

• Final Result
• Full Time
• 90:00+2:38 The referee blows for the end of the match.
• 90:00+1:49 Corner taken by Charlie Mulgrew from the right by-line.
• 90:00+1:38 Daniel Majstorovic takes a shot. Mehdi Benatia gets a block in.
• 90:00+1:10 Corner taken by Charlie Mulgrew.
• 90:00+0:03 Daniel Majstorovic challenges Kwadwo Asamoah unfairly and gives away a free kick. Kwadwo Asamoah takes the free kick.
• 88:40 The official flags Antonio Di Natale offside. Free kick taken by Fraser Forster.
• 87:45 Corner taken by Anthony Stokes from the left by-line.
• 84:54 Shot from just outside the area by James Forrest misses to the left of the target.
• 82:22 Substitution Mohamed Bangura is brought on as a substitute for Georgios Samaras.
• 82:05 Antonio Di Natale takes a shot from just inside the penalty box which clears the bar.
• 80:04 Antonio Di Natale takes a shot. Save made by Fraser Forster. Effort on goal by Pablo Armero from just inside the penalty area goes over the target.
• Correction – 77:16 Mauricio Isla crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right wing.
• Correction – 77:16 Booking The referee shows Du-Ri Cha a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
• 77:16 Mauricio Isla delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from right wing.
• 77:16 Booking The referee shows Antonio Di Natale a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
• Correction – 77:12 Du-Ri Cha concedes a free kick for a foul on Pablo Armero.
• 77:12 Du-Ri Cha gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Pablo Armero.
• Correction – 75:44 Anthony Stokes produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the area and misses to the left of the target.
• 75:44 Anthony Stokes takes a shot. Comfortable save by Samir Handanovic.
• Correction – 74:34 Du-Ri Cha produces a left-footed shot from just inside the box and strikes the post.
• 74:34 Du-Ri Cha takes a shot. Save made by Samir Handanovic.
• 73:30 The official flags Antonio Di Natale offside. Free kick taken by Daniel Majstorovic.
• 71:25 Shot from inside the six-yard box by Kwadwo Asamoah goes wide right of the goal.
• 70:37 Substitution Anthony Stokes replaces Beram Kayal.
• 69:13 Short corner worked by Mauricio Isla.
• 68:54 Almen Abdi produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the right of the goal.
• 68:06 Shot from deep inside the area by Antonio Di Natale clears the crossbar.
• 64:32 Kwadwo Asamoah takes a shot. Comfortable save by Fraser Forster.
• 63:31 Header from close in by Mauricio Isla misses to the left of the target.
• 62:42 Antonio Di Natale takes a shot. Save made by Fraser Forster.
• Correction – 61:22 Free kick taken by Mehdi Benatia.
• Correction – 61:22 Booking Scott Brown goes into the referee's book.
• 61:22 Mehdi Benatia restarts play with the free kick.
• 61:22 Booking Du-Ri Cha goes into the book for dissent.
• Correction – 61:16 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Mauricio Isla by Scott Brown.
• 61:16 Scott Brown challenges Mauricio Isla unfairly and gives away a free kick.
• 60:35 Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Scott Brown.
• 60:28 Charlie Mulgrew produces a cross, Larangera Danilo makes a clearance.
• 59:24 Unfair challenge on James Forrest by Larangera Danilo results in a free kick. Daniel Majstorovic crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel.
• 57:30 Antonio Di Natale takes a shot. Blocked by Daniel Majstorovic.
• 57:16 Centre by Mauricio Isla, comfortable save by Fraser Forster.
• 52:52 Mauricio Isla is caught offside. Fraser Forster takes the free kick.
• 51:28 Shot from just outside the area by Kwadwo Asamoah misses to the right of the target.
• 50:08 Foul by Du-Ri Cha on Giampiero Pinzi, free kick awarded. Samir Handanovic takes the free kick.
• 48:55 Shot on goal comes in from Charlie Mulgrew from the free kick.
• 48:55 Booking Larangera Danilo is cautioned by the ref for unsporting behaviour.
• 48:50 Foul by Larangera Danilo on James Forrest, free kick awarded.
• 48:27 Dusan Basta delivers the ball, clearance by Du-Ri Cha.
• 45:01 The referee starts the second half.
• 45:01 Substitution Tape Doubai leaves the field to be replaced by Mauricio Isla.
• Half Time
• 45:00+2:16 The first half comes to an end.
• 45:00+1:58 Unfair challenge on Sung-Yeung Ki by Almen Abdi results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Sung-Yeung Ki.
• 45:00+0:12 Kwadwo Asamoah provided the assist for the goal.
• 45:00+0:12 GOAL – Antonio Di NataleUdinese 1 – 1 Celtic Antonio Di Natale grabs a goal from inside the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Udinese 1-1 Celtic.
• 43:46 Pablo Armero takes a outswinging corner.
• 39:35 Corner taken left-footed by Charlie Mulgrew, clearance made by Mehdi Benatia.
• 36:58 Kwadwo Asamoah takes a shot. Comfortable save by Fraser Forster.
• 36:40 Foul by Gary Hooper on Almen Abdi, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Mehdi Benatia.
• 34:37 The assistant referee flags for offside against Antonio Di Natale. Free kick taken by Fraser Forster.
• Correction – 33:50 Joel Ekstrand challenges James Forrest unfairly and gives away a free kick. Strike comes in from Charlie Mulgrew from the free kick.
• 33:50 Foul by Joel Ekstrand on James Forrest, free kick awarded. Charlie Mulgrew crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right wing.
• 33:22 The referee blows for offside. Fraser Forster restarts play with the free kick.
• 32:53 Free kick awarded for a foul by Sung-Yeung Ki on Tape Doubai. Direct free kick taken by Giampiero Pinzi.
• 31:59 The assistant referee flags for offside against Antonio Di Natale. Fraser Forster takes the free kick.
• 28:44 Substitution Giampiero Pinzi comes on in place of Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu.
• Correction – 28:02 Assist by Georgios Samaras.
• 28:02 Georgios Samaras provided the assist for the goal.
• 28:02 GOAL – Gary HooperUdinese 0 – 1 Celtic Gary Hooper finds the net with a goal from inside the six-yard box low into the middle of the goal. Udinese 0-1 Celtic.
• 27:25 Georgios Samaras takes a shot. Blocked by Larangera Danilo.
• 26:12 Antonio Di Natale takes a shot. Save made by Fraser Forster.
• 22:15 Effort from inside the area by Georgios Samaras misses to the left of the target.
• 20:22 Outswinging corner taken by Antonio Di Natale from the right by-line, Kwadwo Asamoah takes a shot. Comfortable save by Fraser Forster.
• 18:28 Free kick crossed right-footed by Du-Ri Cha from right wing.
• 18:28 Booking The referee books Pablo Armero for unsporting behaviour.
• 17:57 Free kick awarded for a foul by Pablo Armero on Du-Ri Cha.
• 16:02 Antonio Di Natale takes a outswinging corner to the near post.
• 15:39 Almen Abdi delivers the ball, clearance by Daniel Majstorovic.
• 14:29 Free kick awarded for a foul by Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu on Georgios Samaras. Sung-Yeung Ki restarts play with the free kick.
• 13:48 Almen Abdi produces a left-footed shot from deep inside the penalty area which goes wide of the right-hand post.
• 12:46 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu by Georgios Samaras. Dusan Basta takes the free kick.
• 11:56 Effort from the edge of the box by Antonio Di Natale goes wide of the right-hand upright.
• 10:01 Pablo Armero challenges Du-Ri Cha unfairly and gives away a free kick. Fraser Forster takes the free kick.
• 8:50 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Georgios Samaras by Larangera Danilo. Shot comes in from Du-Ri Cha from the free kick.
• 8:00 Kwadwo Asamoah challenges Du-Ri Cha unfairly and gives away a free kick. Fraser Forster restarts play with the free kick.
• 6:45 Free kick awarded for a foul by Georgios Samaras on Larangera Danilo. Samir Handanovic restarts play with the free kick.
• 3:44 Free kick taken by Mehdi Benatia.
• 3:44 Booking Gary Hooper receives a caution.
• 3:37 Gary Hooper concedes a free kick for a foul on Kwadwo Asamoah.
• 2:14 Gary Hooper concedes a free kick for a foul on Almen Abdi. Kwadwo Asamoah takes the free kick.
• 0:00 The referee starts the match.

Europa League – Celtic risk trouble over banner

Celtic risk more trouble with European football's governing body over an offensive banner during the Europa League draw with Udinese at the Stadio Friuli.

Celtic had been fined £12,700 by UEFA this week after the Hoops fans were reported for "illicit chanting" in a previous Europa League fixture against Rennes at Parkhead.

And in Italy the Hoops fans unfurled a banner reading 'F*** UEFA' and a flare was thrown before the game.

Manager Neil Lennon, who described the result as "gut-wrenching," said: "I am not aware of that. I didn't see the flare before the game so I will have to wait and see what the outcome is. From where I was it looked like the supporters behaved themselves impeccably and I hope that (possible trouble) is not going to be the case."

The visitors, needing victory in the final Group I fixture to go through into the knockout stages, took the lead in the 29th minute when Gary Hooper took advantage of a mix-up in the Udinese defence to tap in from a yard out.

But veteran striker Antonio Di Natale notched from close range with seconds remaining in the first half after Celtic defender Cha Du-ri inadvertently headed into his path.

A clearly disappointed Lennon pointed to two penalty incidents against the Italian club, currently behind Juventus only on goal difference at the top of Serie A, which he claims made the difference over the course of the campaign.

He said: "If you look over the piece, the penalty that Udinese got at Celtic Park (in a 1-1 draw) was probably the difference. It was a joke of a decision.

"And I thought we should have had a penalty tonight right at the end when Daniel Majstorovic headed the ball onto the centre-half's arm.

"From where I was standing it wad a clear hand ball and there may have been one earlier.

"It wasn't ball to hand, I don't understand why he didn't give although I thought the referee had a decent game and allowed it to flow."
PA Sport

Neil Lennon sees red over Celtic's Green Brigade following offensive banner in Udinese matc

In normal circumstances there would have been a bitter-sweet flavour to Celtic’s return from their final European engagement of this season, the 1-1 draw with Udinese in the Stadio Friuli on Thursday night that saw them exit the Europa League but with some distinction, having gone head to head with the Italian league leaders and emerge with their reputation enhanced.
Telegraph

By Roddy Forsyth

11:00PM GMT 16 Dec 2011

On this occasion, however, the prevalent flavour was sour as a consequence of the events that tarnished the name of a club which parades the reputation of its fans whenever the opportunity presents itself.

The Celtic support is not squeaky clean – no sizeable aggregation of followers ever is – but the image cherished within the Celtic Park boardroom is of a gregarious and largely loveable assembly of the faithful, a picture burnished by the accolade of Fifa’s Fair Play Award, presented in 2003 in recognition of the excellent behaviour of the estimated 60,000 fans who travelled to Seville for the Uefa Cup final against Jose Mourinho’s Porto.

Now, though, the club has been forced to face the consequences of the decision by chief executive Peter Lawwell to arrange for the group of supporters who call themselves the Green Brigade to assemble in their own dedicated portion of Celtic Park as a glee club or ginger group, whose task was to animate their more sedate counterparts elsewhere in the arena.

The arrangement has mainly worked to the advantage of the atmosphere and the call and response songs and chants that invariably begin in section 111 undoubtedly rouse the crowd and the players.

Had Lawwell looked at the Green Brigade’s online manifesto, he might have foreseen difficulties – or perhaps he did and felt he could discount them. The introduction of a group whose declared aims include a 32-county Marxist and Gaelic-speaking Republic of Ireland plus a Scottish republic distinguished by the same linguistic and political features, should have rung an alarm bell.

Sure enough, the claque contains an element addicted to singing and chanting in praise of the IRA. Condemnation of this tendency by politicians, police and other fans – including Celtic supporters – has led to a further debate about whether or not any kind of prohibition would constitute a suppression of free speech or comment and, moreover, even a restriction on those who believe they are keepers of the club’s soul.

In a manner drearily familiar to anyone with more than a passing knowledge of Northern Irish factionalism and its equally deformed cousin in the west of Scotland, this debate has splintered in turn.

Lawwell, indeed, was confronted at Trieste airport on Friday by fans who took exception to his attempt to ban pro-IRA songs and in the exchange that followed he said: “You’re a disgrace.”

Lawwell acknowledged his dilemma to the accompanying reporters. “I think there is a recognition that we would like to be able to control the standing section 111 at Celtic Park, but we can’t control all of it,” he said.

“The Green Brigade have had a hard time. That is a group of maybe 300 people, but with them, it is a minority within that minority. Last night we have still to identify which section of Celtic Park these people are from, or indeed if they come to Celtic Park.”

Whatever they call themselves or however they regard themselves – Continuity Green Brigade perhaps? – the hardcore faction dragged Celtic into the gutter in Udine.

Offensive or obscene banners are hardly scarce in football grounds but when, in the same week that the governing body of European football fines Celtic €15,000 (£12,700) for “illicit chants” in praise of the IRA at the home game against Rennes last month, the supposed dissidents unveil a banner bearing the legend “—- Uefa”, in what possible way did they conceivably imagine they did anything but harm the club they profess to support?

They have probably also landed Udinese in trouble, by evading three checkpoints (one of which involved a search of each spectator) by smuggling in their imbecilic flag and the flares they lit to draw attention to it.

And, greatest sin of all for supposed supporters, they swung the spotlight away from an excellent and bold performance by their manager and players.

Certainly Lennon – who takes Celtic to meet St Johnstone in Perth on Sunday afternoon – was incensed.

Asked what he would do were he to be left alone with the culprits he retorted: “If I was in a room with these guys right now what I would say to them would not be for public consumption. That’s how angry I am about it.

“I am very angry because we should be talking about the players today and their efforts. They gave everything last night – every ounce of energy and quality – but today we are talking about a group of people who are just hellbent on damaging the reputation of the club.

“So to say I’m upset about it would be putting it mildly. I can’t understand what they are thinking, I have no idea. Are they even 'Celtic fans’?

“I would use that term very loosely and be very dubious about calling them that. The club has worked very, very hard to build a reputation in Europe – so have 99 per cent of the fans.

“Because of all that hard work we are welcome everywhere in Europe but now we have a few people who are trying to undermine all that and tarnish the reputation of the club. We don’t want them here.

“We are talking about a handful of people here. It’s premeditated obviously – I’m just surprised they spelt the words right. So now we have to call on other fans to self-police it. Let’s put an end to this right now.

“I don’t know if we are going to be charged, or if we’ll have to face a disciplinary hearing or not but it’s the last thing the club needed after all that they have done over the last 10 or 20 years.

“The team performance is what we should be talking about – the way they went about the game and the positivity.

"They didn’t sit back and defend all night, they got on the front foot and they created quality chances and but for a bit of luck we could have scored two or three goals. To do that against Udinese is very, very pleasing.”