St Johnstone lift ban on Celtic bringing banners

Fans will now be able to take flags and banners to Celtic’s St Stephen’s Day clash at St Johnstone following a U-turn by the Perth club and the police, according to the Scottish champions.

St Johnstone had announced on Sunday that a ban had been imposed in a bid to prevent flags being used as a shield to let off smoke bombs and flares, which is a criminal offence in Scottish football grounds.

Celtic’s most recent Scottish Premiership away trip, against Motherwell, saw a number of pyrotechnics let off among away fans and two smoke bombs thrown on to the pitch.