Celtic fans rewarded for behaviour in Seville

FIFA have awarded the 2003 Fair Play Award to Celtic supporters for their conduct at the UEFA Cup final in May.

FIFA have awarded the 2003 Fair Play Award to Celtic supporters for their conduct at the UEFA Cup final in May.

Over 80,000 fans descended on Seville for the game against Porto, which the Hoops eventually lost 3-2 in extra-time.

But, despite the loss, Celtic fans behaved well enough to earn the Fair Play award from both FIFA and UEFA this year.

Celtic executive director Peter Lawwell said: "This award is a superb and fitting tribute to the friendly army of Celtic supporters who followed their heroes to Seville in the summer.

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"The 80,000 fans lucky enough to be there created one of the world's greatest sporting spectacles and, personally speaking, it's one which will live in the memory for a lifetime."

Meanwhile, the Tartan Army have also received praise for their behaviour in Holland despite the battering received by the team on the field.

Scotland were crushed 6-0 by the Dutch in the Euro 2004 play-offs in Amsterdam. But the Dutch Football Association and the management of the Amsterdam ArenA have written to the SFA to applaud the behaviour of

ArenA chief executive Henk Markerink said: "Although the score didn't permit an instant party atmosphere for the Scottish fans, we feel that the idea of sportsmanship was perfectly expressed by your fans.

"We enjoyed every minute of it, and hope that the thousands of Scottish supporters will continue to show this exceptional positive behaviour throughout Europe and the rest of the world in future."