St Mirren plan a minute’s applause in memory of the Queen ahead of Celtic match

St Mirren will hold a minute’s applause to mark the death of the Queen ahead of their cinch Premiership meeting with Celtic.

The Paisley club confirmed their plans after their pre-match media conference for their home match on Sunday.

The Scottish Football Association postponed all matches last weekend in the wake of the news and gave clubs the option of choosing whether and how to pay respects when games resume this weekend.

In a statement on Monday, the SFA, in a joint statement with the Scottish Professional Football League, said: “This week, as a mark of respect and in keeping with the period of national mourning, home clubs may wish to hold a period of silence and/or play the national anthem just ahead of kick-off, and players may wish to wear black armbands.”

St Mirren have opted for a period of applause ahead of their meeting with Celtic, who face a disciplinary hearing at the hands of UEFA after a banner among their supporters declared ‘F*** the Crown’ during their Champions League draw with Shakhtar Donetsk in Warsaw on Tuesday.

Another banner in the Celtic end read ‘Sorry for your loss Michael Fagan’, a reference to the intruder who broke into the Queen’s Buckingham Palace bedroom in 1982 while supporters also expressed their anti-monarchy views in song.

There had been no minute’s silence before the game but both sets of teams wore black armbands.

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson said on Friday morning: “We will be showing our utmost respects. We just hope everybody is respectful.”

Rangers are playing at home on Saturday, against Dundee United, days after defying UEFA by playing God Save the King ahead of their Champions League defeat by Napoli, straight after a minute’s silence. The Ibrox club will not face any sanctions from UEFA for going against its instructions.

Fans in the Broomloan Road Stand created a Union Jack backdrop behind the silhouette of the Queen’s head as a further tribute.

St Johnstone announced on Thursday that they would hold a minute’s applause before their home game against Ross County.