Graeme Souness slams Celtic as the ‘unacceptable face of football’ as he calls out Hoops chiefs for Queen protest silence

Graeme Souness slams Celtic as the ‘unacceptable face of football’ as he calls out Hoops chiefs for Queen protest silence

GRAEME SOUNESS has slammed Celtic as the “unacceptable face of football” after fan protests against the Queen following her death.

Some Hoops fans chanted ‘if you hate the Royal Family clap your hands’ while a banner containing the same phrase could be seen in the away end against St Mirren on Saturday.

The Glasgow club are also the subject of UEFA disciplinary proceedings after supporters displayed a ‘F*** the Crown’ banner during last week’s Champions League draw against Shakhtar Donetsk in Poland.

The Scottish Premiership champions are yet to comment on the either of the incidents and manager Ange Postecoglou preferred not to comment in his post-match press conferences.

Souness is shocked by the radio silence and has hit out at the Parkhead club claiming they have a “major problem” on their hands.

He told talkSPORT: “Before I start Jim, whatever I say on this, people will say ‘oh I expect that because he was employed by Glasgow Rangers and he is a Rangers supporter’.

“I knew we were going to talk about this so you try and say to yourself ‘stand back and try and look at it with a bit of rationale’.

“Can I start by saying the eyes of the world were on this country in the last ten days. Celtic now have a major problem.

“A major problem because if you are a sponsor, a major company looking to sponsor a football team in Scotland or in Britain, would you consider Celtic anymore? Not at all.

“By the decision makers at Celtic being silent on this matter, they are compounding the problem.

“They are causing such a problem for themselves. This is not just a talking point in Scotland, this is a talking point throughout the world.

“They have shot themselves in the foot big time. It is amazing to me that a, it is in a minority that are guilty of this, but it is also a minority who seem to be holding the club to, not ransom, but they are damaging their club beyond belief.

“The brand of Celtic, it is synonymous with being the first British team to win the European Cup, great success, an absolute institution in Scotland.

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“They are absolutely shooting themselves in the foot. If you are a Rangers supporter it is happy days, on you go, keep your silence. Please don’t say anything.

“They should have been out days ago condemning this and they’ve not. For everyone who doesn’t like Celtic it is music to their ears. The silence is brilliant.

“They have shot themselves in the foot and they must see that, yet they are choosing not to come out and condemn it.

“They are now the unacceptable face of football in Scotland. In the eyes of the world, Celtic are now the unacceptable face of football in Scotland.

“The eyes of the world were on Britain. And that minority, I must keep saying that, just a small group.

“I know Celtic supporters, I have pals who are Celtic supporters who are condemning this. Why are the club not condemning it?”