CELTIC’S possible Europa League rivals AIK Stockholm are under investigation by UEFA – and the Hoops face a play-off decider in front of a closed home stand.
Neil Lennon and his players, still recovering from the devastating Champions League exit against Cluj on Tuesday night, will discover their opponents in Europe’s second-tier competition this evening when the Swedes face Moldova’s Sheriff.
AIK are favourites to qualify after their 2-1 triumph away from home last week.
However, the stadium’s Northern Stand will be closed to their supporters tonight following a permit dispute with police chiefs which resulted in the club advising their followers to buy briefs for other sections of their 50,000-capacity arena.
UEFA are also probing a separate situation after trouble marred their Champions League qualifier against Maribor last month.
Furious Scandinavian fans created an uproar after the goal which put them out of the competition when they attempted to confront their opponents’ supporters.
Coach Rikard Norling and captain Henok Goitom had to plead for calm, but the matter was included in the UEFA Delegate’s Report and the Swedes are expecting punishment.
The European governing football body are scheduled to make their judgements at a Disciplinary Committee meeting a week today – seven days before the home leg of their possible play-off tie with the Hoops.
