Celtic captain apologises for party 'upset'

Celtic captain Paul Lambert has apologised to fans for any "upset and embarrassment" caused by the club's Christmas party.

Lambert read from a prepared statement written on behalf of the players in the wake of Tuesday's team night out in Newcastle.

Defenders Joos Valgaeren and Johan Mjallby and winger Bobby Petta spent almost 18 hours in police custody at Gateshead East police station.

Northumbria Police said the three had been questioned in connection with an allegation of robbery outside a nightclub before being released on police bail.

Former Northern Ireland international Neil Lennon was also arrested during that evening but was quickly released without charge, with the other three bailed to reappear before magistrates on Tyneside in March.

Lambert said: "We went out to Newcastle on Tuesday evening for the players to have a social night out in much the same way as groups of colleagues do across Scotland at Christmas time.

"It was never our wish to cause any upset or embarrassment to anyone, whether in Newcastle or back in Scotland.

"We appreciate the press reports may have caused upset and embarrassment to both the club and the supporters.

"The players take their own reputations and that of the club very seriously and, without in any way commenting on the accuracy of the press reports, the players wish to apologise for the fact that a perfectly innocent club night out has caused the club and its fans to be disappointed."

The players had travelled to Newcastle on Tuesday for their annual festive party and spent the evening drinking in pubs before making their way to a bar on the Gateshead side of the River Tyne.

The alleged incident happened as the players left Buffalo Joe's, an American-themed bar where customers are served by bikini-clad waitresses.