Court of Arbitration for Sport turn down the Polish champions appeal to be re-instated into the Champions League…
Celtic’s adventure in the Champions League is set to continue after the Court of Arbitration for sport upheld UEFA’s decision to expel Legia Warsaw after they were found guilty of fielding an illegible player.
The Polish champions had applied for sport’s supreme court to intervene after they were punished for introducing the suspended Bartosz Bereszynski four minutes from the end of the second leg against the Scottish champions.
The Poles were dominant against the Scottish side winning the third qualifying round tie 6-1 on aggregate, 4-1 at home and then 2-0 in Glasgow.
Bereszynski had been sent off for violent conduct in the final match of Legia’s Europa League campaign last season and he missed both of their matches against St Patrick’s Athletic in the second qualifying round and also the first leg against Celtic.
What the Poles didn’t know is that the player was not registered with UEFA for the tie against Liam Buckley’s men and the competition rules state that a player can only serve a suspension in matches for which he is registered.
Hence Legia were found guilty of breaching his ban by playing him against Celtic – even though he played only the last few minutes.
Celtic were reinstated in the competition by UEFA whose appeal committee dismissed an appeal by Legia who then went to the CAS.
A statement issued by CAS read: “The president of the CAS appeals arbitration division considered the parties’ written submissions and has denied Legia Warszawa’s request.
“Accordingly, Celtic FC remains qualified to participate in the UEFA Champions League 2014-2015 and will play its next match against NK Maribor on 20 August 2014.
“The CAS arbitration will now continue and a panel of arbitrators will be constituted to examine this case within the next week.”
Bhoys manager Ronny Deila can now focus fully on the two-legged play-off against Slovenia’s Maribor on Wednesday and next Tuesday.
