Celtic's Champions League season 17/18

JPT saying there's a statement due out soon.

 

The second week of July could be a big one for many Linfield fans.

The 11th Night, the Twelfth, and now a potential Champions League Qualifying match against Celtic on the 14th.

The match can only happen, of course, if 'The Blues' defeat La Fiorita of San Marino in a first-round clash.

But that little caveat is not stopping Linfield fans from dreaming of a big day out at Windsor Park and a big pay-day for their club against the Scottish giants.

Linfield fan William Walsh says it will be a great day for the team and fans and he has no fears about trouble.

"It's just the same as Cliftonville coming to Windsor Park, it'll just be the exact same," he said.

"It'll be cordoned off by police security. So, there's no point bumming and blowing about fighting or anything because it's not going to happen, I don't think."

Another fan, Davy Warren, has been following Linfield for half a century. He says there is great excitement among fans.

"It's good for Linfield, you know what I mean, it puts Linfield in the picture, playing a team like Celtic," he said.

Richard Blair was wearing his Linfield top when I met him, along the Donegall Road.

He is happy with the change of date.

"It gives us time, like, to prepare for the twelfth and all, get that out of the way and prepare for the big game on Friday," he said.

And, he also told me that he believes Linfield can topple the mighty Celtic and qualify for the big time in the Champions League, once they beat La Fiorita.

"Hopefully we do, then we play Celtic, then beat them ones and then hopefully get through into the group stages of the Champions League," he said.

No pressure, then, on David Healy's team, against a club which became the first British team to conquer European football fifty years ago this year.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/40374312

 

So confirmed for Friday 14th at Windsor Park, 17:00 kick off.
Second leg at Celtic Park, Wednesday 19th July.

 

Hope that BBC reporter didn't get paid for that cutting edge article, * me

 

Linfield Football Club can announce that, following negotiations with all relevant parties, provisional details have been agreed for a potential Champions League second round qualifying tie against Celtic. In the event of the club progressing through the first qualifying round, we have agreed to play the home leg on Friday 14th July at Windsor Park with a 5.00 pm kick off. The potential second leg in Glasgow will be on Wednesday 19th July.

No further details about arrangements for this potential game will be announced until after the conclusion of the first round qualifying ties.

Linfield Chairman Roy McGivern commented:

“I am pleased that agreement has now been reached for us to stage a potential Champions League first leg tie against Celtic FC at Windsor Park on Friday 14th July. I would like to thank all of those involved for their efforts in resolving what was a difficult situation and we can now concentrate fully on our forthcoming games against FC Fiorita from San Marino.”

PSNI Operations Superintendent for Belfast, Norman Haslett said: “Police have been in close contact with representatives from both Linfield and Celtic Football Clubs due to the possibility of a Belfast fixture between the two clubs in July. Public safety concerns surrounding the fixture and the impact on the greater Belfast area over the Twelfth period have featured strongly in our considerations and discussions. I can confirm that all parties have now reached agreement on the arrangements for the match, should it proceed.

“The match, if it comes about, will be played in Belfast on Friday 14th July, with kick off at 5pm. I am hopeful that the game will pass off without incident and that the City of Belfast can be showcased as a great venue for European football.”


http://www.linfieldfc.com/latestnews.aspx?id=17701&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

 

* mon La Fiorita!!!

They've got the date wrong for the fixture as it's clearly the 17th century it's taking place. Embarrassing all this.

 

It's an absolute disgrace Celtic are giving them Loyalist scumbags a big payday. * them the sectarian *.

 

JPT getting a tweets about this
https://mobile.twitter.com/CelticFCSLO/status/878252192226004992

 

Who would that be exactly?

 

The Green Brigade.

 

Rid neck if we dont take tickets

 

They are making an absolute mess of this today. Statement will have been no doubt ready early this morning. Leaving JP to firefight with vague responses.

 

EARLIER this week, Celtic were drawn against Linfield or La Fiorita of San Marino to open our UEFA Champions League qualifying campaign, with the away leg due to be played first, on 11 or 12 July, and the home leg to be played at Celtic Park on 18 or 19 July.

Following security concerns raised by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), Celtic has taken part in discussions with Linfield and the PSNI over recent days. While there can be an option to reverse the fixtures if both clubs agree, during discussions, Linfield made it clear that they did not wish to reverse the tie and they wanted play their home leg first.

In addition, as is often the case in football, Celtic’s football management team wished to play our away leg first so that we could benefit from the advantage of playing the second leg at home in front of our supporters at Celtic Park for this crucial European tie.

Following the discussions, it was agreed among the clubs and PSNI and has now been confirmed with UEFA that, should Linfield progress to the Second Qualifying Round, Celtic’s UEFA Champions League match against Linfield will take place at Windsor Park on Friday, July 14, with a 5pm kick-off.

No tickets will be available for Celtic supporters for the match. The safety and security of all Celtic supporters travelling and attending matches is of paramount importance to the Club.

Should La Fiorita of San Marino qualify for the next round, the first leg match would take place on 11 or 12 July.

Regardless of opposition, Celtic’s home leg of this qualifying round will take place at Celtic Park on Wednesday, July 19, 2017, and entry to this first home European qualifier will once again be included as part of the 2017/18 Season Ticket.

If the tie against Linfield proceeds, it will not affect the friendly match between Celtic and Lyon at Celtic Park on 15 July – more information on this match will follow as soon as possible.



https://mobile.twitter.com/celticfc/status/878267459329019904

 

Well * me sideways.

 

Was bound to happen soon as the draw was made.

 

Unbelievable decision. Ridiculous Celtic fans can't go.

And as for safety, well done Celtic, fans will now out of principle probably be there in their masses without tickets, so that kinda defeats the purpose

 

Why is it not at a neutral venue?

 

Waited until 16:00 for that utterly pathetic statement. Gotta laugh at the absurdity of it!

 

* disgraceful decision from the club. Embarrassing. Fuming is an understatement. Get the club outside you're front door and this happens. Thousands travelling week in week out over on buses and boats. Safety my hole, there's plenty of ways to get to Windsor safely.

 

Total disgrace of a decision, out of touch shitebags!