Celtic manager Ronny Deila hopes any UEFA punishment does not impact on their eagerly-awaited clash with Inter after the club were hit with the latest of a series of disciplinary charges by the European governing body.

UEFA’s control, ethics and disciplinary body will examine allegations of “crowd disturbances” among Celtic fans during last week’s Europa League defeat against Dinamo Zagreb, in a hearing on February 19.

Celtic host Inter that night in the first leg of the knockout stages and any punishment could come before their trip to Milan seven days later.

A flare was lit in the visiting section during the game in the Croatian capital and there were other unconfirmed reports of a disturbance, although the only footage that has apparently emerged shows a policeman hitting a Celtic fan over the head with a baton.

Deila is desperate to avoid any potential ban on Celtic fans travelling to Italy following their sixth UEFA charge in a little over three years.

“That would be a big setback for us,” he said.

“Hopefully we get as many fans as possible to the game in Italy because that’s important for us.”

Celtic have twice recently been fined for what UEFA termed “illicit banners” – one a Palestinian flag and one featuring Irish Republican hunger striker Bobby Sands.