A CELTIC fan suffered head injuries after a group of Hoops fans were attacked in Belgrade ahead of tonight’s clash with Red Star, it’s being reported.
It’s claimed that a 34-year-old Hoops fan from Scotland was admitted to hospital with the Parkhead side in Serbia as they prepare to open their Europa League campaign tonight.
Telegraph.RSCeltic fans reportedly came to blows with Red Star fans in Belgrade last night[/caption]
Telegraph.RsThe video of the incident was shared[/caption]
Serbian outlet Telegraf.rs reports that a large group of hooligans attacked fans wearing Celtic strips in cafes in central Belgrade last night.
They’ve shared footage and photos of the scene which show overturned tables and chairs with bottles reported to be “flying in all directions”.
They say a large number of police attended the scene but the attackers fled before their arrival.
Belgrade – and the fearsome Stadion Rajko Mitic or ‘Marakana’ – has a reputation as one of the most intimidating venues in European football.
Players go down onto the field via a two-minute, 240-metre walk under the stadium and onto the pitch.
Red Star go into the match after a 2-1 win in the Eternal Derby with Partizan Belgrade at the weekend – one of the most intense rivalries in Europe.
Celtic fans are hoping for better cheer in Europe than they got over the course of a 7,000-mile round trip to Kazakhstan in Champions League qualifiers.
The Hoops lost on penalties in Almaty after a goalless 210 minutes of football against the Kazakh champions.
Red Star are already huge favourites to win their domestic title after seven straight league victories but were also knocked out of Champions League qualifying by Pafos.
They haven’t lost to a Scottish team at home in seven games, with the Hoops, Rangers, Hearts and Hibs all failing to register a win there since 1961.
Both Celtic and their Glasgow rivals Rangers go into the match with suspended sentences over their behaviour hanging over them.
Hoops supporters narrowly escaped an away fan ban for their Champions League knockout clash with Bayern Munich earlier in the year – they were hit with a two-year suspended ban for the use of pyrotechnics during their match at Borussia Dortmund in October.
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