GLASGOW: Celtic fans will be able to attend the second leg of their Champions League play-off round tie away to Bayern Munich after being handed a UEFA reprieve.
The Scottish champions feared supporters would be banned after a green smoke bomb was thrown onto the pitch from visiting fans during Celtic’s 4-2 defeat at Aston Villa last month.
Celtic had received a suspended one-match ban on selling tickets for traveling fans after a pyrotechnic display in their 7-1 Champions League thrashing by Borussia Dortmund in September.
However, they have escaped with a fine of 10,000 euros ($10,400, £8,340) for the lighting of fireworks and throwing of objects.
“As we had said previously, Celtic made every effort to ensure that our fans could attend this match, and we are pleased that UEFA has considered our detailed submission,” Celtic said in a statement.
“We can also confirm that the original suspended sentence remains in place, as a result of the previous use of pyrotechnics, most recently at the match against Borussia Dortmund, by a small minority of supporters.
“Again we must make it very clear that pyrotechnics have absolutely no place at our matches and should further incidents occur, then clearly, once again, there is an extremely high risk of our supporters not being permitted access to future matches.”
Celtic avoid fan ban for Bayern Champions League tie
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Celtic avoid fan ban for Bayern Champions League tie
- Celtic had received a suspended one-match ban on selling tickets for traveling fans
- “We are pleased that UEFA has considered our detailed submission,” Celtic said
Twisted Minds secure dominant championship win at ESL Saudi Challenge 2026 Finals
- The tournament showcased talent from across the Kingdom’s gaming ecosystem and aims to give a platform to the next generation of esports stars
RIYADH: Twisted Minds have emerged as the winners of the ESL Saudi Challenge 2026 finals, reinforcing their status as a leading force in the Kingdom’s esports scene.
Entering the tournament — organized by ESL FACEIT Group — as defending champions, Twisted Minds delivered a dominant performance in the Overwatch 2 final, securing a commanding 4–0 victory over Kurohana.
The live LAN final, held at EFG Studios in Riyadh, served as the grand conclusion to a tournament designed to showcase the competitive depth and talent within Saudi Arabia’s national esports scene.
The competition featured a total prize pool of $20,000, providing significant rewards and incentives for the Kingdom’s rising stars as they transition from local play to high-level competitive environments. The finals followed an intensive online phase, bringing the top-performing Saudi teams together for a showcase of skill and national talent.
“The ESL Saudi Challenge represents a vital milestone in ESL FACEIT Group’s commitment to the local gaming community in Saudi Arabia,” said Franck Guignery, senior vice president and managing director, Middle East and Africa at ESL FACEIT Group.
“The competition enables talent to progress from national stages to global platforms while contributing to a sustainable esports ecosystem. This directly aligns with the goals of the National Gaming and Esports Strategy, to establish Saudi Arabia as a premier global hub for gaming and esports and talent development.”
Positioned as a Saudi-focused competitive platform, the ESL Saudi Challenge forms part of EFG’s long-term commitment to supporting local esports growth by enabling talent progression, reinforcing professional standards, and fostering community-driven competition. Through these efforts, EFG aims to ensure the long-term international competitiveness of Saudi esports talent on the local, regional and international stages.
