Five Celtic fans slapped with Italian stadium bans for 'provoking opposition' by waving Palestine flags
Como's police chief has slapped five Italian-based Celtic fans with stadium bans totalling eight years for 'provoking opposition fans' by waving the Palestinian flag.
The Hoops' opening Como Cup clash against Ajax on Thursday was overshadowed by ugly clashes between both fans as Brendan Rodgers' side crashed to a 5-1 defeat.
Flashpoints flared in the stands after Palestinian flags were unfurled in the Celtic end and now the city's police chief has come down hard with a no-nonsense response.
Como police commissioner Marco Calì confirmed five Hoops fans based in nearby Lecco have been handed lengthy bans from all Italian stadiums.
And while he insisted it wasn't the flag itself that sparked the punishment, he claims the behaviour crossed the line.
Calìsaid: "The bans for the Celtic fans were issued for provocation, not for the Palestinian flag itself.
"Despite the utmost respect for the suffering of a people, the stadium is a place with rules. And failure to comply with them, obviously, has consequences.
"The rules on what can be brought into a stadium during a football match include a strict ban on bringing symbols, banners, or flags with political overtones. This is because the stadium is a sporting venue.
"The central issue was their behaviour during the match. They came down from the stands and approached the Dutch fans, who were very calm, with the sole intent of provoking.
"Their behaviour was gratuitous and provocative, and we must say, we cannot accept this because it risks inflaming tempers.
"The stadium is a place with rules. And these impose on the authorities the obligation to intervene if symbols with political connotations, not football-related ones, are brought inside.
"But I reiterate, the bans were not because of the Palestinian flag."
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