UEFA’s disciplinary case against Celtic over the behaviour of a section of the club’s support will be heard in Nyon on Thursday.

The European governing body announced in December that they were charging the Parkhead club after supporters displayed a banner of an offensive nature and let off fireworks during their Europa League match against Udinese in Italy on December 15.

The organisation's Control and Disciplinary Body will hear the case today but a UEFA spokesperson told STV on Thursday morning that a verdict, and any possible punishment, may not be announced until early next week due to the volume of cases being considered.

A section of the travelling support in Italy unfurled an offensive banner aimed towards UEFA shortly before kick-off in their 1-1 draw with the Serie A side. Flares were also set alight, with one thrown from the stand onto the running track alongside the pitch.

Under Article 11 of UEFA’s Disciplinary Regulations, clubs can be punished if their supporters “light fireworks or any other objects”.

The same rule also warns measures will be taken if fans behave inappropriately through “the use of gestures, words, objects or any other means to transmit any message that is not fit for a sports event, in particular if it is of a political, offensive or provocative nature.”

The full range of sanctions in the regulations are available to UEFA, ranging from a warning or fine to the deduction of points in European competition, the full or partial closure of a stadium, or the withdrawal of a club licence. The maximum fine available is 1,000,000 euros (£840,000).

Celtic's chairman Ian Bankier condemned a “rogue element” of the club’s support after the match and one fan was subsequently banned for allegedly assaulting a steward in the ground.

"We're going to go on the front foot," Bankier said at the time. "We're going to weed these guys out. We know who they are and we'll deal with them. We're also going to involve the fans' organisations to get the fans to self discipline.