LONDON: The Israel-Palestine conflict has spread to the most unlikely of arenas — Scottish football. The famously pro-Palestinian fans of the Glasgow club Celtic have reacted angrily to plans to appoint a manager who spent a season in charge of the Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv. Robbie Keane, a former Celtic player, is the leading contender to take charge of the Scottish champions after talks with the club’s principal shareholder Dermot Desmond.

Former Ireland star reportedly held talks with club’s top shareholder about post, but some fans object to his time coaching at Maccabi Tel Aviv during Gaza war

Keane remained at Maccabi beyond the start of Israel’s bombardment of Gaza in late 2023