Graeme Souness brands Celtic 'unacceptable face of football in Scotland' after Queen chants and banners

Graeme Souness has branded Celtic the 'unacceptable face of football in Scotland' following the derogatory Queen chants and banners.

Celtic fans revealed an offensive banner during their Champions League clash against Shakhtar Donetsk.

And they continued their anti-monarchy stance against St Mirren last weekend.

Image: Alamy

They held up a banner and chanted during a minute's applause in memory of Queen Elizabeth II.

Former Rangers player and manager Souness has slammed the actions and behaviour of some Celtic fans, calling the Scottish club 'the unacceptable face of football in Scotland' in a scathing assessment.

On talkSPORT, he said: "Whatever I say on this, people will think, 'You would expect that because he was employed by Glasgow Rangers and he is a Rangers supporter'.

"You try and tell yourself to stand back and look at it with a bit of rationale. The eyes of the world were on this country in the last ten days.

"Celtic now have a major problem because if you’re a sponsor, or major company, looking to sponsor a football team in Great Britain - would you consider Celtic anymore? Not at all.

"The decision-makers at Celtic, being silent on this matter, are compounding the problem.

"They are making such a problem for themselves. This is not just a talking point in Scotland, this is a talking point throughout the world, and they have shot themselves in the foot big time.

"It is amazing to me, and it is a minority, that they seem to be damaging the brand of Celtic beyond belief.

"They are synonymous with being the first team to win the European Cup [in 1967], a great success and institution in Scotland.

"If you’re a Rangers supporter, it’s happy days. Keep your silence. Please don’t say anything. They’re shooting themselves in the foot.

"They should’ve been out days ago condemning this."

Image: Alamy

Souness added: "They are now the unacceptable face of football in Scotland.

"I’ve got to believe it’s a minority, I have pals who are Celtic supporters condemning it, why aren’t the club condemning it?"

UEFA has launched an investigation into the banners displayed during the match with Shakhtar and the Scottish FA has yet to respond to the scenes at St Mirren.