The protests had been obvious during TV coverage, prompting Sky Sports commentator Ian Crocker to apologise. “Sorry if you were offended with the disturbance to the silence,” he added.

Loud booing had first been heard as Kilmarnock captain Kyle Vassell approached the middle of the pitch with a wreath. One banner held up in the Celtic away end at Kilmarnock also declared: “From Balfour to Starmer, The crimes of the empire live on, Britain is committing genocide in Gaza.”

Kilmarnock manager Dereck McInnes condemned the fans’ behaviour and also hit out at the decision to prematurely end the minute’s silence shortly after it had started.

“I don’t get any decisions,” McInnes said. “Celtic even decided when the minute silence stops. I mean, we don’t get these decisions.

“I thought it was awful. Awful. Why? I’m not going to lie, I’m not a politician or anything, but it’s our ground, it’s our minute silence. I don’t get why we shouldn’t have the wherewithal just to stand and show a bit of respect for one minute.”

‘It’s always a challenge’

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers expressed his disappointment and added: “I think if it’s a minute silence it should be a minute.

“That’s the reality of it. I think you guys know the script up here at this time of the year. It’s always a challenge. But if it’s a minute silence, it’s a minute silence. I think we all want to respect that. And we all understand that some don’t. So, it can be a divisive one.

“But like I say, I understand. But really, my chat is for the football and that’s something else. That’s outside of that, sadly.”

Meanwhile, Derry City fans unfurled a banner that read “Free Palestine” during the FAI Cup final against Drogheda United. The banner was taken down by stewards but eventually re-appeared in the lower tier at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.