Thursday 15 September 2022 10:29 AM Champions League: Celtic fans mock the Queen's death with 'F*** The Crown' ... trends now
Celtic fans mocked the Queen's death with a banner that read 'F*** The Crown' and chants of 'if you hate the royal family, clap your hands' last night – while Rangers defied Uefa's ban on British teams playing the national anthem.
Scottish football is divided by sectarianism and many fans who follow Rangers identify themselves as Protestant and unionist, while many who support Celtic identify themselves as Catholic and Irish republicans.
Celtic fans unveiled the offensive banner just before their Champions League clash with Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk last night, with BT Sport forced to apologise after honing in on it at the game played in Warsaw.
All UK teams playing home or away were allowed to hold a one-minute silence as a mark of respect for the Queen, who died last week. But following a pre-match meeting between Celtic, Shakhtar and Uefa, it was decided there would be no silence before kick-off. Players from both teams did wear black armbands in Her Majesty's memory.
However, the sentiment clearly wasn't shared by an element of the travelling Celtic support. Just before kick-off a banner was unveiled that read: 'F*** The Crown.' As the Champions League anthem was being played another banner was unfurled that also mocked the death of the Queen. It read: 'Sorry for your loss Michael Fagan.'
Fagan famously managed to scale the Buckingham Palace walls before creeping into Her Majesty's bedroom while she slept in 1982. The then painter and decorator spent around 10 minutes talking to the monarch about his family. The Queen thought Fagan was just a drunk member of staff, who was eventually tackled by a duty footman.
Celtic fans mock the Queen's death with a banner at their Champions League tie with Shakhtar Donetsk in Warsaw last night
As the Champions League anthem was played, Celtic fans unfurled a banner saying 'Sorry for your loss Michael Fagan'
Celtic fans mocked the Queen's death with offensive banners at the Champions League tie in Warsaw yesterday evening
Rangers defied a ban from Uefa as they blasted 'God Save the King' out of their speakers at Ibrox yesterday evening
Fans of Rangers sing 'God Save The King' after a minute's silence tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at Ibrox yesterday evening
Rangers elected to ignore the ruling by Uefa on not playing the National Anthem - and played it regardless before the match
The Celtic game took place in Warsaw due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine at the hands of Russia. Thousands of supporters had trekked to Poland in support of Celtic in their second Champions League match of the season.
Meanwhile Rangers defied Uefa's ban on British teams playing the national anthem before Champions League matches last night as the Scottish side played 'God Save The King' through speakers at Ibrox.
