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Celtic enthusiasts were the subject of a disgusting banner mocking their Irish heritage at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday night.
Some Lazio fans have long been convicted of acts of fascism and their punters were caught throwing flares at the enthusiastic visitors before kick-off, reports the Daily Record.
But it was the ridiculous banner placed on top of their Champions League win over Brendan Rodgers’ side that sparked the condemnation.
The taunt read: “The Famine is Over. Go home f****** potato eaters.”
The riff of the chant of condemnation used between Ulster loyalists and Rangers supporters has been included in a list of bans that Police Scotland has distributed to clubs so it would be accepted in Scottish football.
But Lazio, attacked for their links to fascism through the Green Brigades on their visits to Celtic Park, decided to fight back on a night when their team was on the brink of breaking out of the Champions League round of 16. .
And scenes followed the police insurrection separating the punters after the chilling incident when a Lazio thug threw a fireworks at the tightly packed enthusiasts before one of them returned.
On the pitch, Celtic were knocked out of Europe for the season after a belated brace from super replacement Ciro Immobile gave Lazio a 2-0 Champions League.
The Hoops went into the make-or-break game with one point from four Group E matches but gave as good as they got for most of the game before the home side’s veteran attacker struck in the 82nd and 85th minute to sink the Scottish champions.
To rub salt in the Celtic wounds they were awarded a penalty by Halil Umut Meler in added time for a push on substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu but it was overturned when VAR intervened and sent the referee to the pitchside monitor for another look.
Celtic are left behind in the segment and cannot catch Lazio, Atletico Madrid or Feyenoord.
Brendan Rodgers’ side will face the Rotterdam side in the final draw at home next month, but this will be their European swan song of the season.
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