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Celtic fans raise £100,000 for Palestinian charities

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The donations come after the club was fined by Uefa for supporters flying Palestine flags.

Celtic fans have raised more than £100,000 for Palestinian charities after the club was disciplined by Uefa following a game against Israeli team Hapoel Beer Sheva.

European football’s governing body said the club had been fined for supporters waving Palestine flags throughout the Champions League game in Glasgow on 17 August.

The sanction marks the eighth time in five seasons that Celtic has been punished for the conduct of its supporters.

In response, a group of fans this week launched a campaign named #matchthefineforpalestine to raise funds for a medical charity and a refugee centre.

In response to this petty and politically partisan act by European football’s governing body we are determined to make a positive contribution to the game

A statement on the campaign’s gofundme page reads: “At the Champions League match with Hapoel Beer Sheva on 17 August 2016, the Green Brigade and fans throughout Celtic Park flew the flag for Palestine.

“This act of solidarity has earned Celtic respect and acclaim throughout the world. It has also attracted a disciplinary charge from UEFA, which deems the Palestinian flag to be an ‘illicit banner’.

“In response to this petty and politically partisan act by European football’s governing body we are determined to make a positive contribution to the game.”

By mid-afternoon on Monday, the campaign had raised over £36,000 in donations, more than doubling its initial target of £15,000. Less than 24 hours later, the figure was at £100,000 and still rising.

The money will be split equally between Medical Aid for Palestinians, a British charity that supplies medical services in the region, and the Lajee Centre, which runs cultural and sporting activities for young people in Aida Refugee Camp, Bethlehem.

According to the campaign, the centre will use the cash to buy equipment for its youth football team, which will be renamed Aida Celtic in honour of the show of support from Hoops fans.

Salah Ajarma, the centre’s coordinator, said: “It will mean so much to our young people to be part of an official team, to have boots and strips and to represent the camp wearing the colours of our friends. Aida Celtic will be a source of pride for all in Aida.”