Aston Villa v Celtic: UEFA report may have started after ‘Sad’ development
Aston Villa may have already been reported to UEFA before their Champions League clash with Celtic after an offensive banner was spotted prior to the game, Keith Hackett has said.
Images emerged online of a banner unfurled on a motorway bridge in the direction Bhoys supporters would be travelling to Villa Park for Wednesday’s (29 January) clash.
The banner included references to the IRA. In 1974, two IRA bombs were set off in city centre pubs in Birmingham, killing 21 people (BBC News).
Ex-FIFA referee and former PGMOL chief Hackett said if the banner has already been made aware to the UEFA delegate, it will be included in his match report for the fixture.
Speaking to Villa News, Hackett said: “If this reaches the UEFA Delegate appointed to the match then it will be included in his match report.
“It is sad that alleged match supporters take this approach.
“However, it could be anyone that has a grudge and it must be recognised that neither team can do much about it
“I hope that someone has the decency to take it down.”
Aston Villa may be reported to UEFA over offensive banner
It remains to be seen, of course, if UEFA has already been made aware of the banner that was spotted earlier on Wednesday.
But if it has, then it looks likely that the governing body will already have included mention of it in the official report for the contest at Villa Park.
Villa are already guaranteed to at least reach the play-off round in Europe’s premier competition having taken eight points from seven matches.
However, with victory tonight they could book their route straight into the last 16 by finishing in the top eight of the league phase.
In other Aston Villa news, an official bid has been made to land a Premier League ace.
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