Investigation: Strathclyde Police raised issues of 'illicit chanting'.
Celtic have been told by European football's governing body that they face charges of "illicit chanting" by their fans.
It follows a report by Strathclyde Police that a section of the club's fans sang "offensive songs" during the Europa League match against French side Rennes at Parkhead on November 3.
Club officials have been advised that UEFA's control and disciplinary body will consider the matter on December 8 after the governing body charged it with "an incident of an unsporting nature".
Celtic are understood to have been surprised by the claims as the issue was not raised either during the match, which ended in a 3-1 win for the Glasgow club, or immediately afterwards. A spokesman said: "We are currently looking into these claims."
A spokesman for Strathclyde Police said: "We can confirm there were a number of instances during the game of singing offensive songs and inquiries are ongoing to detect the offenders."
If found guilty, the club could be fined by UEFA or its supporters banned from future games. Celtic have not previously been sanctioned by the game's European authorities over allegations of offensive chanting, although in 2008 an investigation into songs sung during a match against Barcelona was dropped for lack of evidence.
Rangers have previously been fined more than £70,000 and handed a suspended ban after being found guilty of "discriminatory behaviour" by their fans during European matches.
Celtic last month urged fans to stop singing pro-IRA chants after being "inundated" with complaints from their own supporters following their 2-0 defeat by Hearts at Tynecastle.
Lothian and Borders Police have launched an investigation into the "singing of sectarian songs" following the Clydesdale Bank Premier League game on October 2.
STV SPORT
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