Reports from Italy on Friday afternoon have raised eyebrows, as a local outlet, calcioAtalanta.it, claimed that Celtic fans could be banned from attending their Champions League tie against Atalanta. The two sides are set to face off on October 23rd, with the match taking place at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo.
According to the Italian site, authorities are allegedly considering prohibiting Celtic supporters from travelling to the game, citing security concerns. The report suggests that the potential ban is linked to tensions arising from a supposed relationship between Celtic fans and Napoli supporters—a claim that, frankly, comes out of the blue for most of us.
In a report published by calcioAtalanta.it, they wrote:
“The Italian authorities are considering banning Celtic fans from travelling to the upcoming Champions League match against Atalanta for security reasons. The decision isn’t final yet, but ticket sales to Scottish supporters may be blocked. The potential ban is linked to concerns over tensions, particularly due to the relationship between Celtic and Napoli fans.”
Celtic Tickets and Reality
At this point, it’s important to note that this appears to be purely speculative. As far as we’re aware, Celtic have already been allocated tickets, with travel plans firmly in place. In fact, Celtic’s official travel partner has already confirmed they are chartering a flight to Bergamo for fans attending the fixture.
Celtic fans are known for their wide-ranging friendships with clubs across Europe, but it’s a stretch to suggest Napoli are one of them.
While the Italian authorities may be taking extra precautions due to the high-profile nature of the fixture, it’s difficult to see this ban materialising, especially given the preparations already in place for Celtic fans to make the trip.
