Referee Cuts Short Minute's Silence as Celtic Supporters Disrupt Remembrance Day Tribute
Celtic fans booed the annual minute of silence for Remembrance Sunday and it led to the match referee having to curtail the tribute much earlier than usual.
Over the weekend, a minute's silence is observed at football matches and other sporting events across the UK to commemorate servicemen and women from the military and civilian spheres who have served in both World Wars and subsequent conflicts.
It is held over the second Sunday in November so it is closest to November 11, the day when the First World War came to a conclusion in 1918 when the Armistice came into effect at 11am after more than four years of bloody conflict.
Advert
Usually, a minute's silence at sporting events is impeccably observed for Remembrance Day, with the Last Post played, wreathes of poppies laid, and flags from local military units often present.
However, that was unfortunately not the case at Celtic Park in the Scottish Premiership this afternoon as Celtic take on Kilmarnock.
The stadium announcer at Parkhead reminded the crowd before the minute's silence that several former Bhoys players lost their lives in the First World War, but chants were held from both ends prior to the game.
The moment of silence - which should have lasted for a minute - was curtailed after just 10 seconds by referee Don Robertson due to booing.
Despite Celtic banning members of the club's ultras group, known as the Green Brigade, the minute's silence was impacted.
BBC Scotland radio commentator Rob McLean said: "It was a very brief minute's silence, it was a few seconds' silence.
"It was threatening to be disrupted, and Don Robertson decided to quit while he was ahead."
It is the second year in succession when Celtic fans have disrupted a minute's silence for Remembrance Day, where the supporters jeered during the commemoration at Rugby Park against Kilmarnock some 12 months ago.
On the pitch at Parkhead, Celtic beat Kilmarnock 4-0 as their gap to Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts now stands at seven points.
Johnny Kenny puts the hosts in front after 10 minutes and Kieran Tierney doubled the advantage early in the second half.
Daizen Maeda added the hosts' third by netting on the break, before Arne Engels netted Celtic's fourth from the penalty spot in injury time after Yang Hyun-Jun was pulled down in the box by Kilmarnock's James Brown.
Topics: Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Football
John McDougall