Martin O'Neill urges Celtic fans to ditch Palestine flags but admits 'I’m a voice in the wilderness'

Martin O’Neill has urged Celtic fans to ditch Palestinian flags ahead of a planned display by the Green Brigade for the Champions League showdown with Atletico Madrid at Parkhead.

The Hoops legions have shown support for Palestine since war with Israel escalated in the region and that has led to criticism – including from former player Nir Bitton who blasted banners displayed in a recent match against Kilmarnock – on the very day of an attack by Hamas on Israel.

Celtic insisted that they “disassociate” with the flags and reinforced the message that “political messages and banners are not welcome at Celtic Park”. However, the Green Brigade have called on fans to fly the Palestinian flag when the Spaniards arrive for the huge Euro clash in Glasgow – a message reiterated minutes after O’Neill offered his opinion.

Ex Hoops boss O’Neill was a guest on Jim White’s talkSPORT lunchtime show and the Irishman was asked by the Scot if he would tell fans not to bother taking the flags to the game to which he replied: “Yeah I would. Listen, it’s like a voice in the wilderness at the end of it all but that’s what I would say. It’s so, so sensitive at this moment. But can you stop this? I’m not so sure you can.”

White’s co-host Simon Jordan weighed in and said Celtic chiefs should get tougher with those planning the show of solidarity. Asked if he was in a position of authority at Celtic if he would be strong, the ex Crystal Palace chairman said: “Yeah I would. Whether people think that is cloth-eared is for them to work out. But the notion of suggesting I don’t want it in the stadium would then be supported by instructing my staff not to allow it to come in and then instructing my stewards to ask people to remove it if they saw it