Brussels dismisses state aid complaints over council and football club land dealings

The European Commission has ruled out opening a formal investigation into complaints that Glasgow City Council breached state aid rules in land deals with Celtic Football Club.

According to a report in The Herald, Brussels had asked the club and council for detailed information after receiving complaints. At issue was the acquisition by Celtic in the last decade of land owned by the council and whether these deals had been at a knock-down rate.

Both parties denied any wrongdoing.

It is understood that the Commission concluded that the relevant transactions respected the market economy operator principle.

A spokesperson for the European Commission said: “Following complaints of citizens, the Commission carried out an informal, preliminary investigation into alleged aid provided by the City of Glasgow to the Celtic Glasgow football club.

“Contacts with the UK and information received from the authorities however did not confirm that Celtic received any state aid, because the City did not grant any financial advantages to the club. Therefore, on the basis of the available information, the Commission’s services did not see a basis to investigate the matter further.”

A council spokesman told Local Government Lawyer: "We are pleased that the Commission has found in our favour following its consideration of the claims of State Aid."