Celtic may not have to observe a minute’s silence or play the national anthem this weekend

Celtic could dodge more controversy over fans’ reaction to tributes to the Queen, with the Scottish FA telling clubs they DON’T have to play the national anthem or hold a minute’s silence at matches this weekend

Celtic may be allowed to skip the minute’s silence and the playing of the national anthem by the Scottish FA when they return to domestic action this weekend.

It was announced on Wednesday that, in the English Premier League, a minute’s silence and the National Anthem will feature at all matches, along with a round of applause in the 70th minute to mark the late monarch’s 70-year reign.

Big screens will display images of Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away last week, while players will wear black armbands with flags at stadiums flying at half-mast.

In Scotland, however, the SPFL have stated that clubs ‘may wish’ to hold a period of silence ‘and/or play the National Anthem’ ahead of kick-off. 

Celtic go to St Mirren in their next SPFL fixture on Sunday. No decision has yet been made on what tribute, if any, will be paid before the game on Sunday lunchtime.

The SPFL’s statement, released earlier this week, said: ‘Fixtures will go ahead, subject to Police Scotland resourcing, with the caveat that any fixtures be rescheduled if they fall on September 19, the day of Her Majesty’s funeral.

‘Home clubs may wish to hold a period of silence and/or play the National Anthem just ahead of kick-off, and players may wish to wear black armbands.’  

On Wednesday night, Celtic did not request a minute’s silence before their Champions League game against Shakhtar Donetsk in Poland. Their players did wear black armbands.

The Queen passed away at the age of 96 last week, and sport has paid tribute to her since

However, Celtic fans displayed offensive banners about the Royal Family on Wednesday

However, Celtic fans displayed offensive banners about the Royal Family on Wednesday

That show of respect on the field was not repeated in the stands, with supporters in the away section displaying offensive banners, with one reading: ‘F*** the crown’.

Another read: ‘Sorry for your loss Michael Fagan’. Fagan famously managed to scale the Buckingham Palace walls before creeping into Her Majesty’s bedroom while she slept in 1982.

The then painter and decorator, who has schizophrenia, spent around 10 minutes talking to the monarch about his family.

Early in the match, there was a chant of ‘If you hate the Royal Family, clap your hands’.

Celtic will get to decide whether they want to pay tribute to the Queen this weekend

Celtic will get to decide whether they want to pay tribute to the Queen this weekend

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson has questioned why the SPFL haven’t adopted a uniform approach for tributes to the Queen when domestic action returns this weekend.   

Speaking to Sky Sports on Wednesday, Robinson said: ‘I think it’s a question for the league to answer, why they haven’t given everybody one way to do it.

‘In terms of the football club, the powers above me will decide what we do to show our respects, but I just concentrate on the football side of it and try and be as prepared as we can.’

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