Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) – Celtic fans have sparked widespread controversy in British media, after the “hostile” chants of the late Queen Elizabeth II, during the team’s match with St Mirren, on Sunday evening, in the eighth round of the Scottish League. .
Saint Mirren was keen to honor Queen Elizabeth II, at its stadium, “St. Mirren Park”, by organizing a minute of applause to commemorate the Queen, but Celtic fans interrupted the applause, and raised a banner that read: “If you hate the royal family, clap your hands.” They chanted the same words throughout the planned honors period.
The Scottish Football Association had issued a statement earlier, announcing that local clubs could organize a minute of silence, or play the national anthem before kick-off, and players wear black armbands, as a sign of respect and in line with the period of national mourning, after the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Sky Sports, which was broadcasting the Celtic match and its host Saint Mirren, confirmed to CNN that during its presentation of the minute of applause, it turned off the stadium microphones, to limit hearing the chants, while commentator Ian Crocker said after the end of the applause: “I apologize if I was offended by anything. You’ve probably heard it, most people showed respect and some didn’t.”
This is the second time that Celtic fans have taken actions against the late Queen, as fans previously raised offensive banners, during the match against Shakhtar Donetsk, Ukraine, in the Champions League, last Wednesday, which prompted the European Football Association to open an investigation.
CNN contacted the Scottish League and Celtic but did not immediately receive a response, while the Scottish Football Association, the country’s football governing body, told CNN it had “no jurisdiction over the behavior of fans at league matches”.