Celtic Europa League match stopped for three minutes just seconds after kick-off

Play between Celtic and Stuttgart was paused for three minutes due to a fan protest at kick-off.

Celtic supporters threw tennis balls onto the pitch around 15 seconds into their Europa League play-off clash on Thursday night.

AFP

It is believed that they were protesting against the club’s board amid a sub-par season both on and off the pitch.

Stewards and players could be seen removing balls from the playing surface before the match eventually resumed.

Celtic boss Martin O’Neill cut an unimpressed figure on the bench as he waited for the delay to end.

Bilal El Khannouss put Stuttgart ahead in the 15th minute before Benjamin Nygren equalised for the hosts just moments later.

However, El Khannouss found a second before the half-hour mark and Jamie Leweling netted another in the second half.

Celtic protests continue

Although they sit three points off the top in the Scottish Premiership with a game in hand, Celtic fans have vented their frustrations again.

In September, they protested against the board during their 4-0 win over Partick Thistle, during which fans fought amongst themselves.

Many held posters with the face of then chairman Peter Lawwell, who later resigned due to ‘intolerable’ abuse and threats.

Chants of ‘All Celtic fans against the board!’ and ‘Sack the board!’ were heard when the players walked out of the tunnel.

Another protest followed a month later as fans threw tennis balls and even oranges at the start of their 2-0 loss to Dundee.

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TNT Sports

Prior to the match, they launched a ‘Not another penny’ campaign to stop other supporters from spending money at the club.

Celtic have endured a chaotic season and, as it stands, could be set to miss out on a fifth consecutive league title.

Brendan Rodgers resigned at the end of October and O’Neill came in as their interim boss.

Wilfried Nancy was then given the permanent job, but Celtic sacked him at the beginning of the year after six defeats in eight matches.

O’Neill returned for a second time and will remain as their manager until the end of the season.