By Andrew Warshaw in Monaco
August 26 – Scottish club football’s European season could be saved from total humiliation with Celtic being parachuted back into the Europa League, UEFA announced today.
All Scottish clubs had been eliminated even before the group stages but it now seems Celtic could be reinstated following a protest that Sion, who knocked them out of Europe, fielded a spate of ineligible players.
The Glasgow club filed a complaint to European football’s governing body in the wake of the 0-0 first leg against the Swiss side, after José Gonçalves, Gabri, Mario Mutsch and Pascal Feindouno all featured in the match.
The quartet, together with Billy Ketkeophomphone, were included in Sion’s Europa League squad despite FIFA, the Swiss League and even the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) insisting they obey a transfer embargo placed upon them last summer after they illegally brought in an Egyptian goalkeeper who was still under contract with another club.
Celtic manager Neil Lennon stated after his team’s 3-1 aggregate Europa League exit that the club would file a second protest, which seems certain to be heard next week by UEFA’s disciplinary body.
Speaking to reporters, UEFA President Michel Platini said Sion were “in clear violation of the ban” which was flouted after a Civil Regional Court gave the club permission to field the new players, a dangerous precedent for any future footballing sanctions.
“What is happening there is the rules have not been respected,” said Platini.
“FC Sion has not respected the rules of the transfer ban – they signed players and then played those players.”
UEFA’s general secretary Gianni Infantino insists the local court ruling had no bearing on his organisation’s decision-making.
“The civil court ruling does not affect UEFA,” he said.
“Civil courts have not been set up to deal with the sporting world.
“Sion will be in the draw but they can be subsequently excluded.
“The control and disciplinary body will make a decision certainly before the group stage starts.”
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