US Edition Celtic could be the subject of disciplinary action from Uefa after the game's ruling body confirmed that it is analysing footage of alleged misbehaviour by their supporters in Barcelona at the Champions League match earlier this month.
They are studying several films which allegedly feature Celtic followers indulging in sectarian songs and chanting, both inside the Camp Nou Stadium and in the fan zone set up for ticketless fans.
Uefa stressed that the investigation is still at an early stage and Celtic have not yet received any correspondence from their headquarters in Nyon.
"We have received some footage showing Celtic supporters singing some alleged anti-Queen and pro-IRA songs - sectarian songs," said a spokesman. Although the footage captures a minority of those in shot offending, he claimed that the numbers involved was irrelevant.
"Basically we take care of all manifestations of sectarian singing," the spokesman stressed. "The only condition is that it must be in the immediate surrounding area of the stadium. There was alleged sectarian singing inside the stadium.
"If the investigation is conclusive, then a disciplinary case would be opened. It will depend on the ease of having these songs understood and the quest of finding other evidence."
Celtic were disturbed to learn that Uefa was considering taking action against them and pointed out that their supporters had been lauded for their good behaviour - before, during and after the match.
An official club statement said: "Celtic supporters have already been praised highly by Uefa for their behaviour and were also applauded by FC Barcelona, the Catalan police, the people of the city and the Catalan media.
"Celtic Football Club states quite clearly that as a club open to all, it stands firmly against all forms of bigotry and sectarianism. This can be seen from the great volume of work which Celtic carries out in this area.
"The club condemns any small minority who choose to indulge in any form of negative or offensive behaviour."
Celtic Supporters' Association spokesman Tommy Dornan claimed to be surprised at the revelation, although not at the timing of it. "Something like this seems to happen on the day before every Old Firm game," he said. "It must have been a small number of people involved and we would like to ask them to think about what they're doing to the image of our club.
"If their conduct was offensive then we would obviously condemn it but there is a limit to what football clubs can do when it is society's problem.
"We also had a crowd of 60,000 who behaved themselves at our match against Milan earlier this season, yet the club was fined because one stupid person ran on to the field and gave their goalkeeper a mild tap on the cheek."
Rangers were fined a total of £22,200 and warned as to their future conduct after Uefa viewed mobile telephone footage of their supporters singing sectarian songs at a Champions League match in Villarreal, a threat which has greatly improved their behaviour.
Hearts announced yesterday that their debts had risen to £37 million after posting their financial results to July, 2007.
That figure does not include the £9m sale of Craig Gordon to Sunderland and turnover increased for a fourth successive year, to a record £10.32m. The Edinburgh club claims they intend to reduce their unfeasibly high £12.49m wage bill to a more realistic level.