Presuming they make it past La Florita, Linfield's Champions League Qualifier draw against Celtic has had a lot of people sweating due to the date has been set for. The PSNI will be at full stretch manning the events of July 12th and the idea of the Green Brigade pouring into Belfast for a game is one they will be approaching with plenty of caution.
Understandably it is in the Belfast club's interest to play the first game at home, a trip to Parkhead that week might result in a defeat that'd make the 2nd leg a less profitable piece of dead rubber and everyone involved in planning has accepted that Linfield are much better off playing the games in that order.
With the tie moved forward to 5pm on 14th July (if they do make it to the next round) there will be time for the forces to re-group their resources but regardless of this, Celtic have already have come out and said they will not be availing of their ticket allocation over fan safety concerns.
Needless to say Celtic fans aren't happy, particularly the ones who live in Northern Ireland.
"Football without fans is nothing."
Jock Stein 1967
"Football without fans is acceptable."
Celtic Board 2017— Andrew (@Hullbhoy) June 23, 2017
Imagine being the person who had to phone UEFA to say Celtic couldn't play Linfield on the 12 July because of a battle that happened in 1690
— James Doleman (@jamesdoleman) June 23, 2017
If Linfield & the PSNI cannot guarantee the safety of travelling supporters then the club should be severely punished by UEFA. Unacceptable.
— Kieran (@Kieran_Celtic) June 23, 2017
My presence in Belfast will upset Celtic more than it will Linfield fans. That, in its saddest form, is progress. 😂
— Dav-id (@RadicalCelt) June 24, 2017
Celtic really passed the buck on this one.. can deny any responsibility but know there fans will travel or live here will attempt to go
— @woodstockFTG (@woodstockFTG) June 24, 2017
Did Celtic refuse tickets because (1) it's Linfield. (2) it's on around the 12th (3) bit of both ,if it was Cliftonville,would they refuse
— JungleLion (@JungleLion_) June 24, 2017
For Celtic fans, the issue of their club not taking their allocation has made the potential for violence worse: the consensus is that the strong Celtic supporting contingent in Northern Ireland will still manage to source tickets. The result of this happening will be that fans are going to be mixed in with the home support and for this reason, many seem sure that the club rejecting an official away allocation will turn out to be the wrong decision.
To be fair to Linfield the general opinion amongst their fans is that they are going to get a bad name from groups of trouble makers who will only go to the game because it's Celtic. Bohs and Rovers supporters can relate to the issue of "fans" fighting on derby day before going missing again until the next big meeting comes around.
The game will stand to make Linfield around £1m in profit and their chairman Rory McGivern has said he would have "loved to see Celtic fans at the game" but added that their absence "won't ruin any spectacle."
Speaking earlier in the week:
We have a massive game next Wednesday night and we can’t carry on with all of this...we have to get through before we even start thinking about Celtic.
The two clubs have worked very well together this week and we are just delighted to be hosting a potential game on July 14 in Belfast.
Linfield will take on San Marino's La Florita in the first leg of their qualifier on Wednesday night.
