Shakhtar Karagandy: Sheep sacrificed in stadium before Celtic victory

[Kaveh Ahangar]

Kazakh side Shakhter Karagandy have called on an unusual means to gain the edge over Celtic in their crucial Champions League play off clash Tuesday by slaughtering a sheep at the stadium for good luck.

Shakhter Karagandy, one of the most easterly sides in European football, are hosting Celtic in the Kazakh capital of Astana and will need everything on their side to overcome the Scottish giants.

Coach Viktor Kumykov said that the Kazakh champions had slaughtered a sheep a day ahead of the clash but said there was no reason for the ritual sacrifice to be the cause of any fuss.

"We are just observing a tradition. The guys decided that being in the play-off is a new level and we are not going to violate this tradition," he said in comments on the Karagandy website.

The vesti.kz website said a cleric from the local mosque was invited to oversee the sacrifice and published a picture of the unfortunate black sheep being led out onto the pitch on a cart.

In many Muslim majority countries like Kazakhstan, the ritual slaughter of a sheep is seen as bringing good fortune ahead of a major event. The meat from the slaughtered sheep is then often distributed among the poor.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/08...-celtic-clash/

[Nokhodi]

Haggis time.

[scotian]

kazakhstan plays in Europe? LMFAO

[Kaveh Ahangar]

kazakhstan plays in Europe? LMFAO

They have been a member of UEFA since 2002.

[persepolisfan]

If Armenia, Georgia,turkey, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan were to play in Asia, world cup qualification for Iran would be a hell of a lot harder

[Kaveh Ahangar]

Champions Lge: Shakhter will not repeat sheep sacrifice in Glasgow

Shakhter Karagandy's ceremony of sacrificing a sheep will not be repeated before Wednesday's match against Celtic in Glasgow.

The Kazakh club carried out the ceremony before last week's Champions League play-off first leg in their homeland.

And coach Viktor Kumykov hinted they would do so again ahead of the return meeting at Celtic Park.

But a Celtic spokesman said: "Clearly this would not happen."

And they added: "Shakhter have spoken to the club and said this is a misunderstanding and made it clear they have no intention whatsoever of doing anything like this."

Peta urged Uefa to punish Shakhter after they sacrificed a sheep at the Astana Arena ahead of their 2-0 victory last Tuesday.

And the animal rights group say Uefa have written to the club to explain that a repeat of such acts may lead to disciplinary action.

The Scottish SPCA warned that any slaughter held outside a licensed premises would be a criminal offence and the charity raised their concerns with Celtic.

And Scotland For Animals urged the public to complain to Celtic in an attempt to prevent a repeat ceremony in Scotland.

Earlier, when asked if his club planned a ceremony for the second leg, Kumykov said: "Possibly, yes. It shouldn't be too difficult finding a sheep in Scotland."

Speaking through an interpreter, Kumykov defended the ritual, saying: "All I can say is that every team and every club has its own pre-match traditions and rituals.

"Celtic must have their own. We will try to respect our traditions and those traditions have been in place even before we came to the club."

Shakhter are aiming to be the first club from their nation to reach the group stages of Europe's top competition for club sides.

Kumykov then played down the effects the pre-match ritual had had on the first leg in Kazakhstan.

"Of course this tradition may have certain psychological impact on players that can help them to relax before the game," he said.

"But, obviously, what really matters is on the football pitch, the game and the final score and you know we scored twice in the first-leg and Celtic failed to score - that's what really matters."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23852624

[Babak agha]

Well it seems god turned his back against them!

[Camran khan]

If Armenia, Georgia,turkey, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan were to play in Asia, world cup qualification for Iran would be a hell of a lot harder

Not really, only Turkey would probably cause us trouble, the rest of those teams are jokes

[Kaveh Ahangar]

Well it seems god turned his back against them!

Not really, only Turkey would probably cause us trouble, the rest of those teams are jokes

Agreed. Other than Turkey, the rest are Mickey Mouse teams.

[Zamboor]

Aztually Azerbaijan would be dangerous as well

[hzv]

Aztually Azerbaijan would be dangerous as well

armenia is a very strong side also...maybe stronger than azerbijan.

[Camran khan]

Aztually Azerbaijan would be dangerous as well

Yes, very dangerous team ranked 115th with mostly local sh!tty players except for like one in 2nd. bundesliga, bottom of the turkish league and one in rubin kazan..

[Kaveh Ahangar]

Yes, very dangerous team ranked 115th with mostly local sh!tty players except for like one in 2nd. bundesliga, bottom of the turkish league and one in rubin kazan..

Not forgetting the fact that they usually finish last or second from bottom in their WCQ/Euros group, taking a good few thrashings along the way.

[Mr.Click]

If Armenia, Georgia,turkey, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan were to play in Asia, world cup qualification for Iran would be a hell of a lot harder

I can see Turkey who would be a top 5, but the rest?!

[KeonKish]

Re: Shakhtar Karagandy: Sheep sacrificed in stadium before Celtic victory

Believe it or not Armenia is actually good In their offense department, but their defense is garbage, so they're at the level of Saudi

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