Celtic fans have raised more than £40,000 for the people of Palestine after UEFA charged the club for flying the country's flags at a match.

The club will be punished by UEFA after supporters unveiled Palestinian flags in the first leg of their Champions League play-off against Hapoel Be'er Sheva.

The governing body has opened disciplinary proceedings against the Scottish champions after fans flew the flags before and during the match against the champions of Israel at Celtic Park.

The charge against Celtic is over the display of an illicit banner under Art. 16 (2) of the UEFA Disicplinary Regulations. This case will be heard on September 22, after match day one of the Champions League group stage.

Fans of the club, as a result, have launched an online fundraising campaign in a bid to match any fine handed to Celtic and donate the cash to charities in Palestine.

A gofundme page set up to raise the cash had received almost £25,000 in donations by Monday morning, just 20 hours after it was set up.

The page reads: "At the Champions League match with Hapoel Be'er Sheva, the Green Brigade and fans throughout Celtic Park flew the flag for Palestine. This act of solidarity has earned Celtic respect and acclaim throughout the world.

"It has also attracted a disciplinary charge from UEFA, which deems the Palestinian flag to be an illicit banner. In response to this petty and politically partisan act by European football's governing body we are determined to make a positive contribution to the game and today launch a campaign to #matchthefineforpalestine."

The supporters plan to donate half of the cash raised to Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) and the other half to the Lajee Centre, a Palestinian children's centre in Aida Refugee Camp in Bethlehem.

MAP helps Palestinians living under occupation and as refugees and delivers health and medical care to those worst affected by conflict, occupation and displacement.

The charity has offices located in Beirut, Ramallah, Jerusalem and Gaza City, MAP responds rapidly in times of crisis, and works directly with communities on longer term health development.

Aida is one of 19 refugee camps in the West Bank and has for 66 years been home to Palestinians forcibly expelled from their homes in Hebron and Jerusalem.

The Lajee Centre offers an escape to the young people at the camp with various sport and activity programmes.

The original target of the fundraising page was £15,000 but has been increased to £40,000 after the massive response.