Two Scottish Premiership side Celtic fan groups "urged the club to reverse" its decision to decline tickets from Northern Ireland Football League Premiership side Linfield -- and asked the Belfast club to "consider selling directly to visiting fans," according to the PA. Celtic last week revealed no tickets would be available for its fans for the potential Champions League qualifier at Windsor Park. Should Linfield progress past Sammarinese side La Fiorita, the second-round first leg has been "pencilled in" for a 5pm kickoff on July 14 -- "two days after the Orange marching season hits its peak" -- following discussions with the clubs and the Police Service of Northern Ireland. The timing "exacerbated fears over a meeting between two clubs with supporters on opposite sides of Northern Ireland's political divide." But the Celtic Trust and Green Brigade "demanded a re-think." A joint statement posted on the trust's Facebook page said, "The statement released by the board late on Friday afternoon did not contain any clear explanation of this decision. ... The statement noted 'safety concerns' but it is our understanding that the PSNI does not object to Celtic fans travelling and, indeed, Linfield has publicly encouraged the board to accept our allocation and stated they are 'more than happy' for Celtic fans to attend the match" (PA, 6/27).
