Martin O’Neill criticises Celtic fan protest that halted Europa League match

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The Celtic Star

·20 febbraio 2026

Martin O’Neill criticises Celtic fan protest that halted Europa League match

Martin O’Neill has criticised Celtic supporters who staged a protest during last night’s Europa League clash against VfB Stuttgart…

Fan protest at Celtic v VFB Stuttgart at Celtic Park during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Knockout Play-off First Leg match between Celtic FC and VfB Stuttgart at Celtic Park on February 19, 2026. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)

The match was halted after only 15 seconds when fans threw tennis balls onto the pitch, forcing referee Erik Lambrechts to stop play for more than three minutes while the area was cleared.

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The demonstration was the latest in a series of protests aimed at the club’s board, with the Green Brigade still banned from attending matches at Celtic Park.

The ultras group, along with fan media including The Celtic Star, has been banned since October and December respectively, despite holding discussions with Brian Wilson this week. Incredibly Wilson admitted that the club couldn’t remember who actually banned the fan media, never might actually know what the censorship was imposed in the first place.

Martin O’Neill in the Celtic dugout for his 1000th match as a manager. Celtic v VFB Stuttgart at Celtic Park during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Knockout Play-off First Leg match between Celtic FC and VfB Stuttgart at Celtic Park on February 19, 2026. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)

However, O’Neill suggested the disruption ultimately hindered his players, who went on to suffer a 4-1 defeat in the first leg of their European tie, and questioned whether such protests were in the best interests of the team.

Speaking via TNT Sports, O’Neill said: “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.”

Fan protest at Celtic v VFB Stuttgart at Celtic Park during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Knockout Play-off First Leg match between Celtic FC and VfB Stuttgart at Celtic Park on February 19, 2026. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)

O’Neill added: “What it does do, Stuttgart here who might be [scared]to come to this wonderful football club, and find out there is infighting going on, and things being thrown onto the pitch at the end of it all.”

“It doesn’t make any great sense to me. If I am a Stuttgart player I am thinking ‘woo, I am pretty happy in this environment if that is the case.”

"We were masters of our own downfall" Martin O'Neill defends Kasper Schmeichel when looking back on Celtic's tough defeat to Stuttgart and talks the lack of money for Scottish teams compared to the Premier League... 🎙️ @Becky_Ives_ 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK
– giovedì 19 febbraio 2026

Why his eyesight was good enough to notice to tennis balls being thrown onto the pitch the Celtic manager claimed that he was unaware of the booing directed at Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was was badly at fault for at least two of the Stuttgart goals last night, adding to his crazy attempt to prevent the Kilmarnock second goal last weekend.

Kasper Schmeichel of Celtic looks dejected during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Knockout Play-off First Leg match between Celtic FC and VfB Stuttgart at Celtic Park on February 19, 2026. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)

Celtic to return to action on Sunday when they face Hibernian at Celtic Park in another crucial Scottish Premiership encounter. Whether Celtic have Kasper Schmeichel in goal or not remains to be seem but there will be no protests as Celtic look to get the three points that that will maintain our title challenge in a three club battle for the Scottish Premiership trophy.

Conor Spence

Celtic in the Thirties by Matt Corr. Click on image to order