Martin O'Neill has urged Celtic fans to ditch their Palestinian flags ahead of a planned display against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night.
The visiting section of Tynecastle yesterday was packed out by Hoops supporters and the vast majority held up a Palestine flag.
The display came as players for both Hearts and Celtic wore black armbands during the match as a show of support to those affected by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine.
Former Hoops boss O'Neill appeared on talkSPORT this morning and alongside Jim White and Simon Jordan and the trio discussed the display of support for Palestine.
O'Neill explained: “I would urge these people to think about the possible intimations and the messages that might be sent out here, particularly over the last couple of weeks.
"It's been a terrible time. I would urge those fans to really think about that and take the club view to note have that there for political purposes at this moment. Listen, it’s like a voice in the wilderness at the end of it all but that’s what I would say. It’s so, so sensitive at this moment. But can you stop this? I’m not so sure you can. It's a really sensitive time."
Former Crystal Palace chairman Jordan also chipped in, saying: "Whether people think that is cloth-eared is for them to work out. But the notion of suggesting I don’t want it in the stadium would then be supported by instructing my staff not to allow it to come in and then instructing my stewards to ask people to remove it if they saw it being waved.
“Ultimately, you would start moving towards the territory of suggesting to fans that if they caught flags coming into the stadium then they will be confiscated at the turnstile. But if people want to smuggle them in then they’ll smuggle them in.
“I don’t understand whey we need to fly flags at football matches. We’re watching a football match. I never understood the argument brought by the LGBT community that they wanted to go to Qatar but were unhappy they couldn’t wave an LGBT flag in a football match. I don’t understand why you would be waving an LGBT flag at a football match - you’re there to watch a football match.
“While the geopolitical travails are very much in the minds of all of the western world – and the world full stop – I don’t know why you would need to take a flag to a football match. It’s because football has created that culture. Of course football fans are members of society and represent all persuasions, ethnicities, creeds and cultures but at the centre of this is ‘you’re going to watch a football match’ and you’re waving a Palestinian flag if you’re going there as a Celtic fan.
“I don’t necessarily think this is a conversation that should be had as a result of football fans going into football matches. It will be and football’s only response could be to say ‘we really much prefer you don’t do this’.”
A joint statement from the SPFL and SWPL urged clubs to use black armbands last weekend with the league bodies supporting the British Red Cross' emergency appeal to support the international response efforts.
Earlier this week Celtic fan group the Green Brigade announced their intention to show support for Palestine with a flag display during the Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid.
A Celtic statement had distanced the club from a previous display and condemned the display of "such messages" at Celtic Park.
