By Graeme Cleland

A DUNDEE youth football team could be stripped of their league title after players allegedly became embroiled in ill-tempered scenes at a cup final last month.

The president of Dundee and District Youth Football Association confirmed that Dundee Celtic Boys Club under-17s had been suspended from playing while an investigation was completed into events at a cup final with Tayport Thistle.

The suspension has meant the champions have not been able to complete their final two league cup fixtures of the season.

Jim Falconer said yesterday the league’s management committee were “extremely disappointed” with the behaviour of some players from the Dundee Celtic side at the Bridge Cup final at Whitton Park on April 22, which Tayport won 2-1, with three Celtic players having been sent off.

It is alleged a gift presentation to a retiring official was disturbed and Celtic players threw their medals over a fence following an acrimonious end to the tie.

Mr Falconer refused to go into specifics about the situation but confirmed action had been taken against Dundee Celtic Boys in the interim.

The management committee has the power to strip the club of its league title, or impose a range of other sanctions, if the club is found to have acted improperly.

Mr Falconer said, “They have been suspended while the matter is being investigated. We are very disappointed with the behaviour of certain individuals and it’s a shame they have ruined it for the other players because they were winning the league.

“Bad behaviour will not be tolerated and the team’s remaining two games have been suspended.”

A spokesman for Tayport Thistle said it would be wrong to comment on the events as the matter is now in the hands of the association.

However, he described the behaviour of his own club’s players as “exemplary” and admitted that it was a very serious matter not just for the association and the two clubs involved, but “for youth football over-all”.

A statement issued on behalf of Dundee Celtic Boys by club solicitor George Donnelly said, “Dundee Celtic Boys Club executive have carried out a full and thorough investigation into the events of the above fixture.

“Dundee Celtic Boys Club executive committee received numerous letters and statements from individuals and families who attended the above match and official information available at the time.

“Dundee Celtic Boys Club refutes the majority of the unsubstantiated statements made by an anonymous source as inaccurate and misleading.

“The game was played in a normal manner and uneventful until the last five minutes when a Dundee Celtic Boys player was given two yellow cards for questioning a match official’s decision over a throw-in.

“Another Celtic Boys player questioned the match official’s decision and was correctly sent off. The match concluded after a free-kick had been awarded to Celtic Boys and, amid scenes of mixed emotion of jubilation and dejection, some comments were made by spectators on both sides.

“Dundee Celtic Boys Club players and officials did not disrespect the presentation to retiring assistant referee Mr William Mill and, in fact, applauded the presentation.

“One Celtic Boys Club player did, in an act of petulance and disappointment, throw away his medal.”