Rodgers hit with timekeeping sanction as UEFA threaten Copeland closure over racist banner

The Celtic Star

·25 marzo 2025

Rodgers hit with timekeeping sanction as UEFA threaten Copeland closure over racist banner

Both Celtic and theRangers have been hit with UEFA fines and suspended sentences, with the Ibrox club having the more severe sanctions imposed on them after a racist banner was displayed at their recent Europe League match against Fenerbahçe…

18 02 2025, UEFA Champions League 2024 2025 Play off second leg, FC Bayern Munich Celtic Glasgow, at the Allianz Arena Munich Coach Brendan Rodgers Celtic Glasgow on the sidelines. Photo IMAGO.

Let’s start with the Celtic punishments and this time it’s nothing to do with the supporters but it’s down to the Celtic manager! Brendan Rodgers has been blamed for a late kick-off against Bayern Munich and together with a fine he’s received a one year suspended sentence!

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Celtic has been fined £8,400 for the late kick-off in their Champions League clash in Germany against Bayern Munich, with the blame falling on Brendan Rodgers who accordingly has been served with a one-match suspended suspension.

Nicolas Kuhn scores during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off second leg match between FC Bayern München and Celtic FC at Allianz Arena on February 18, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

Celtic has also been fined £7,500 – or €9,000 – for the usual offence of blocking stairways. The UEFA charge from the home game against Bayern Munich reads as follows: “Incident and sanction: Blocking of public passageways, Art. 38 UEFA Safety and Security Regulations – Fine: €9,000.”

While the away game charge from UEFA reads: “Incidents and sanction: – Late kick-off, Art. 11(2)(h) DR – Fine: €10,000. Late kick-off (Mr. Brendan Rodgers), Art. 11(2)(h) DR – Suspension: one (1) UEFA club competition match. Said one (1) match suspension is suspended during a probationary period of one (1) year.”

Fairly trivial stuff and it can be noted that the threat of an away ticket ban due to further pyros or smoke bombs has come to nothing – so well done to the supporters. As for Brendan…!<

UEFA THREATEN THERANGERS WITH COPELAND ROAD CLOSURE DUE TO RACISM

Now to the serious stuff relating mostly to the banner that has been deemed racist that was displayed at the recent match at Ibrox by the home support in theRangers Europa League match against Fenerbahçe, which theRangers lost 2-0 but won a penalty shoot-out after the tie finished 3-3 on aggregate.

Here’s a reminder of the banner from Scotland’s Shame

Scotland’s Shame at theRangers vs Fenerbahçe, Ibrox, Europea League, 13 March 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

The sanctions for this were expected to be severe but UEFA have exceeded expectations hitting the 2012 founded football club with a hefty fine and a threat to close the Copeland Road stand if there are any further racist incidents – and this will appear to include chanting, as a subsequent statement from theRangers confirms.

theRangers have issued a stern warning to their support and confirmed that they are in the process of issuing life bans to those responsible for the banner shown above. They have also advised that those supporters who lit of flares at Celtic Park in the recent Glasgow Derby match will also face sanctions for the club.

Scotland’s Shame at theRangers vs Fenerbahçe, Ibrox, Europea League, 13 March 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

The UEFA charge sheet against theRangers reads as follows:

Incidents and sanction: Improper conduct of the team (5 players or more), Art. 15(4) DR – Fine: €8,000.

Throwing of objects, Art. 16(2)(b) DR – Fine: €4,500

Blocking of public passageways, Art. 38 UEFA Safety and Security Regulations -Fine: €6,000 A dejected theRangers fan sits with his head in his hands in the Govan Stand after watching his team lose 3-2 against 10 men Celtic. theRangers v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Ibrox 11 March 2018. Photo by Stuart Wallace Shutterstock.[/caption]

So that’s going on €50k in fines and a two year partial stadium closure affecting the Copeland Road for any re-occurrence with theRangers themselves confirming that this will include their hateful and racist songbook which was heard throughout the recent match at Celtic Park with no sanctions from the SPFL or the Scottish FA and nothing at all in the media of even from the two clubs. Only Celtic fan media, including The Celtic Star, has called it out.

Today’s sanctions from UEFA has prompted a stern statement directed at their supporters from theRangers Board and that is to be welcomed although it’s more out of self-interest than any attempt to stamp out the unacceptable behaviour in banners or in songs.

A general view of Ibrox Stadium on February 14, 2012. HM Revenue and Customs are in the process of asking the Court of Session to put Glasgow Rangers Football Club into administration. This counteracts moves by owner Craig Whyte, who yesterday gave notice of the clubs intent to go into administration. HMRC is in dispute with the Scottish Premier League Champions over a £49million pound tax bill. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Today’s statement from theRangers reads as follows:

(the)Rangers notes the outcome of the UEFA disciplinary case, and the respective sanctions imposed upon the club for several issues at the recent Ibrox match with Fenerbahce.

“Most notably, the club has been served with a suspended closure of the Copland Stand should there be any repeat of racist and/or discriminatory behaviour within the next two years.

“This punishment must serve as a severe and significant reminder to the small minority of supporters who bring the name of (the)Rangers into disrepute. Any repeat of any discriminatory behaviour (and this also includes the singing of illicit songs) may result in the famed ‘(the)Rangers end’ of our home being closed for a UEFA match.

“Not only will the reputation and finances of the club be harmed by such a punishment, but the chances of the team in a potentially key European match will also suffer enormously, while thousands of innocent fans will be unable to attend a massive fixture.

“In response to the displaying of the racist and/or discriminatory banner at the Fenerbahce game, the club can confirm that it is in the process of issuing lifetime bans to the individuals responsible.

“Further, following the use of pyrotechnics at Parkhead in the Old Firm (sic) game, the club can confirm the groups responsible for their discharge will be directly impacted by the 500 ticket reduction issued as a sanction the next time the club appears in the latter stages of the Premier Sports Cup at Hampden.

“The club again stresses a future use of pyrotechnics at any SPFL match may lead to a further reduction of 800 tickets at a latter-stage Premier Sports Cup match.

“The strongest asset this football club has is our support, and the club knows the overwhelming majority of our supporters will be angered by these episodes and the consequences they have for the club and its supporters. We reiterate our call for all supporters to back the team in the correct manner, and to challenge those who seek to further damage the good name of (the)Rangers.”

Statement Ends.

theRangers vs Fenerbahçe, Ibrox, Europea League, 13 March 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

It’s notable that the statement doesn’t go as far as to say that these “illicit songs” should not be sung at all as they are racist, hateful and the wrong thing to do. It simply says that they should not be sung because it will bring further punishment from UEFA with their Copeland Road stand being closed due to this behaviour that UEFA has officially deemed as racist.

theRangers vs Fenerbahçe, Ibrox, Europea League, 13 March 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

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