Scottish Premiership side Celtic and the Police Service of Northern Ireland are embroiled in a "Twitter row" after the PSNI claimed it had "nothing to do with the Parkhead club's decision to knock back tickets for Friday's clash" with Northern Ireland Football League Premiership club Linfield, according to Fraser Wilson of the Scotland DAILY RECORD. The Champions League qualifier in Belfast is set to go ahead without any traveling fans after Celtic refused its allocation "over safety fears" for its supporters. That decision came after talks between police, security officials and the two clubs settled on Friday's date for the tie, which was moved over fears "it clashed with the height of the Orange Order marching season in Belfast." However, the PSNI on Wednesday issued a statement on Twitter denying it "influenced the decision." The statement was "met with surprise from Parkhead," where Celtic execs responded by saying, "We are extremely surprised by this statement and the timing of the release. This is clearly not our understanding of the situation and we stand by our statement of 23rd June" (DAILY RECORD, 7/12).
FOOTING THE BILL: The Scotland DAILY RECORD reported Belfast City Council will fund a fan zone for Celtic fans to watch the qualifier. A place for supporters to congregate before the game has reportedly "been set up in the Devenish Complex in Finaghy," at a cost of £15,000 ($19,400). The funding proposal was motioned by Sinn Fein councilor Matt Garrett during a meeting involving the West Belfast Police (DAILY RECORD, 7/13).
