Sky Sports apologise after anti-Royal Family chants and banners at Celtic match

Sky Sports apologised to viewers after chants were heard during a minute's silence for the Queen at a Scottish Premiership fixture.

Anti-monarchy songs were heard during the game between St Mirren and Celtic at the SMISA Stadium on Sunday afternoon. A section of Celtic supporters held up a banner that read: "If you hate the Royal family clap your hands" - with a similar chant following.

The fixture was televised on Sky Sports and commentator Ian Crocker apologised to anyone who might have been offended by the chants. He said: "Apologies if you were offended by anything you might have heard. Most people showed respect some did not."

Queen Elizabeth II died at her Balmoral estate in Scotland earlier this month, aged 96. Her Majesty's passing marked the end of her 70-year reign as the UK's sovereign. King Charles III, the Queen's son, is now the monarch for the UK and the Commonwealth.

The UK is currently in a period of mourning to honour the Queen's life and service, with that period set to end after Monday's state funeral. Millions of people, from across the world, have paid tribute to Her Majesty - including well-known figures within football.

Yet not everyone is in favour of the monarchy and some have made their feelings known during this period. That includes a section of Celtic supporters, who held up a banner that read "f*** the crown" during their recent European game against Shakhtar Donetsk.

The actions of those Celtic fans in question has divided opinion among the public. Some believe the banners and chants are offensive at a time of national mourning, while others think those supporters have every right to protest against the monarchy.

Speaking ahead of Sunday's match against St Mirren, Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou asked supporters to respect the minute's silence for the Queen. The Glasgow club are the subject of UEFA displinary proceedings for their banner against Shakhtar.

"I have the same message to our fans that we always have," said Postecoglou at his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon. "As I said before the game [against Shakhtar], we will abide by the protocols. We wore black armbands on Wednesday night."

Postecoglou added: "I think there's a minute's applause [on Sunday], we will abide by whatever obligations and responsibilities we have as a football club. We will do that in a respectful manner. We want our supporters to do the same."

Postecoglou continued: "I'm not going to speak on behalf of anyone else's supporters. I will look after our own club and our own supporters. Like I said, we will do whatever is required, as we have so far I think in a fairly respectful way as a football club."

St Mirren boss Stephen Robinson said on Friday afternoon: "We will be showing our utmost respects. We just hope everybody is respectful."

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