20 Aug 2020 15:25:35
Further to my earlier Post Re: Celtic V Ferencvaros . TheCelticStar. com Posted that : - ' Between those two campaigns of 63/ 64 and 73/ 74, there had almost been a first competitive meeting of Celtic and Ferencvaros, the clubs drawn together in the first round of the 1968/ 69 European Cup. Then Warsaw Pact forces, including soldiers from Hungary, invaded Czechoslovakia on the night of 20 August 1968, Celtic chairman, Bob Kelly, subsequently sending the following telegram to UEFA;
"In view of the illegal and treacherous invasion of Czechoslovakia by Russian, Polish and Hungarian forces, and in support of the Czech nation, we, the Celtic Football Club, do not think that any Western European football club should be forced to fulfil any football commitment in any of these countries. "

Despite UEFA's reluctance to get involved in the delicate political situation, many other western clubs and nations lent their support to Celtic's stance, the governing body eventually forced to come up with a compromise solution which involved a redrawing of the first-round ties only, to ensure that all of the Eastern Bloc countries were paired together, thereby buying some time.

Most of the sides from beyond the Iron Curtain subsequently withdrew, with Celtic matched up against French champions, St Etienne, in the revised draw. ' So we should've played them bacck then, but didn't . . .

1.) 20 Aug 2020
20 Aug 2020 16:11:03
I grew up thinking the European cup 1st round was redrawn in 1967/ 68.
With Celtic being the holders and then getting knocked out by Dynamo Kiev.

2.) 20 Aug 2020
20 Aug 2020 16:53:20
'Having disposed of Les Verts on a magical night at Parkhead, the Bhoys then came out of the second-round hat with one of the only two remaining clubs from the Eastern Bloc, Yugoslav champions, Red Star Belgrade. Celtic would beat them before losing to eventual cup-winners, AC Milan, in March 1969, by which time the Parkhead chairman had been knighted. It was a widely-held belief that Kelly’s moral stance on this issue was a major factor in that recognition. '

3.) 20 Aug 2020
20 Aug 2020 17:09:26
It’s strange how Inter Milan are playing Seville in a European final in Lisbon.
All 3 European destinations Celtic have played finals in.
And also Inter Milan being our opposition when we won the big cup.

4.) 20 Aug 2020
20 Aug 2020 18:19:54
Maybe it's an omen.

5.) 20 Aug 2020
20 Aug 2020 18:26:57
68/ 69 we played Red star after their game against Jena was cancelled in previous round. The other two cancellations were Ruch v Dynamo Kiev and Levski v Ferencváros. The only team to go forward was Red star Belgrade. So the chance of meeting them was 5/ 1.

6.) 22 Aug 2020
22 Aug 2020 11:13:27
Anyone associated with our club should be telling them to stick their knighthood up their arse.