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CELTIC fans clashed with police at McDairmid Park after officers moved in to confiscate a banner yesterday.

The row came after the flag displaying an anti-police message was spotted in the crowd during the team’s 3-0 win over St Johnstone .

Several officers wearing high visibility jackets filed into the stands to take the banner from fans, who protested at its removal.

A green and white banner saying “Police everywhere justice nowhere” had been held up moments before.

(Image: SNS)

Ciaran Reilly tweeted Celtic supporters’ campaign group Fans Against Criminalisation, saying: “Police storming Celtic end after grabbing a flag.” Another fan branded the move “outrageous”.

In October, FAC accused the force of restricting freedom of speech, claiming banners were banned and confiscated ahead of a demonstration.

(Image: Reuters)

Police Scotland denied they had overreacted to the protest at Douglas Park, Hamilton , which called for the scrapping of a controversial anti-bigotry law, designed to stamp out offensive behaviour at matches in Scotland.

The Scottish Government pushed through the Act in a bid to tackle sectarianism in the aftermath of the Old Firm “shame game” in 2011, which was marred by incidents on and off the pitch.

FAC raised concerns about the level of policing for their banner demonstration and vowed to lodge a complaint against officers.

No one at Police Scotland was available for comment.