Celtic have been dealt a fresh blow following an announcement involving the Scottish FA, with the club now facing consequences after chaotic scenes in their recent European clash.
It is the kind of distraction they could have done without at this stage of the season.
The trouble stems from the Europa League meeting with Stuttgart, where the game was brought to a halt just moments after kick off. Tennis balls were thrown onto the pitch by sections of the Celtic support in protest over the continued ban on the Green Brigade.
The group have been locked out of Celtic Park since October, and while discussions had taken place with the club’s hierarchy, no resolution was reached ahead of the fixture. That frustration spilled over into the stands and quickly onto the pitch.
Officials were forced to stop play for several minutes as the situation was brought under control.
While the delay itself was brief, the fallout has been far more damaging.
Authorities have now taken action, and Celtic have been hit with a financial penalty after being found responsible for crowd misconduct. The punishment comes at a time when focus should be firmly on the pitch, with the title race entering a crucial phase.
Instead, attention has shifted once again.
The match itself ended in disappointment for Celtic, who were beaten 4 1 on the night before managing a narrow 1 0 win in the return leg. But the result has almost been overshadowed by the events that unfolded in the stands.
Unsurprisingly, Martin O’Neill did not hold back when addressing the incident.
“Anybody who thinks that is a good idea needs their heads examined.
“First of all it sends out the totally wrong message to Stuttgart. The game is hard enough, and the problem is some years ago this was an incredibly intimidating place to come to.
“I managed here when sides like Juventus were scared stiff of coming here when top class sides were scared stiff.
“That sort if thing does not help at all. There has been battles going on, all sorts of things really, but that sort of thing doesn’t help.”
His frustration was clear, and it reflects a wider concern about the direction things are heading.
Celtic Park has long been known for its atmosphere, a place where the crowd plays a huge role in driving the team forward. Incidents like this risk shifting that reputation for the wrong reasons and only add unnecessary pressure on the players.
With the season reaching its decisive stretch, Celtic now find themselves dealing with issues both on and off the pitch.
And as O’Neill’s reaction shows, patience within the camp is wearing thin.