CELTIC fans will not be barred from their side's Europa League clash with Lazio next week, after the Italian club were sanctioned by UEFA.
Supporters feared that the Stadio Olimpico would be closed for the Europa League group stage fixture after Lazio were charged by European football's governing body for making fascist salutes against Rennes supporters in their previous European fixture.
But UEFA have revealed that while a section of the stadium will be closed for the tie, Celtic's away allocation will not be affected by the decision.
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Sections 46, 47, 48 and 49 of the Stadio Olimpico will be closed for the match, and Lazio have also been fined 20,000 euros for the incident.
Additionally, the Seria A club have been handed a suspended sentence of having to play a match behind closed doors - but this will not come into affect so long as there are no repeat offences.
Lazio released a statement on Tuesday evening, criticising UEFA's decision.
It read: "The decisions of the 'Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body' of UEFA with reference to the behavior of some supporters during the meeting between S.S. Lazio and Stade Rennais F.C. constitute a heavy penalisation that seems to have taken into account the clear condemnation expressed promptly by the biancoceleste society against the hateful racist acts carried out by a few irresponsible.
“The sentence, at the same time, confirms the firm will of the S.S. Lazio to continue on the line of "zero tolerance" established by the President Claudio Lotito.
“The company also reaffirms its intention to prosecute criminally and civilly those responsible for unacceptable events that cause not only serious damage to the image and heritage of Lazio but heavily penalise the overwhelming majority of a fan base that has always been foreign and contrary to excess racists of a small minority.
“The S.S. Lazio, however, on the basis of findings in the process of finding, reserves the right to appeal to UEFA decisions to reduce penalties that are largely discharged on the most responsible and virtuous supporters.”
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