August 13 – Today UEFA will hear Legia Warsaw’s appeal against the 3-0 sanction that turned their 6-1 Champions League qualifying round win over Celtic into a 4-4 draw, and the Scots going through on away goals. The sanction sparked mass comment with multiple emotions unleashed. Legia fans bombarded Celtic, UEFA and anyone who would listen with requests and then demands that Celtic should withdraw.
Our columnist David Owen argued that Celtic withdrawing from the next qualifying round and allowing Legia to go through would not only be the sportsmanlike thing to do, but it could also prove to be commercially the right thing to do. The value in taking the moral high ground could prove, in this rare instance, to generate a real financial benefit to the business.
Not everyone agrees with him.
Of many comments received, the letter below from Celtic fan Derek Ritchie below, states the case for UEFA’s rules trumping any perceived morality.
Mr Owen,
I read your article today regarding Celtic’s Champions League reprieve, and whilst I was initially of the same opinion as you when the news broke, I have since changed my opinion.
Firstly the abuse directed at Celtic from Legia themselves, from the Legia fans, and from Poles in general is totally unmerited. Celtic played no part in this, other than the on-field debacle that played out over two legs. It was the UEFA delegate who reported the incident, and it was UEFA who made the decision. Celtic had no input and stayed quiet during the whole matter.
Secondly, I disagree that Celtic will receive any favourable comment if they did withdraw. In fact, I suspect quite the opposite. I believe the media will criticise Celtic for giving up the chance of £10 million with finances so scarce in Scottish football. Then the fact that other Scottish teams are relying solely on Celtic for co-efficient points, and the small amount of money that drips down the leagues. Legia may well say thanks, and UEFA may well hand out a Fair Play Award, but those will soon be forgotten.
And thirdly, as a Celtic fan, I can point to numerous occasions where Celtic have been treated harshly in Europe and there has been no public or media outcry for the offending club to forfeit the match. Why therefore should Celtic do the right thing, when no one else has been prepared to, or even asked to?
1. 1966, Liverpool v Celtic, ECWC. With Liverpool leading 2-1 on aggregate Bobby Lennox scored a late equaliser, but it was given a very questionable offside. I wasn’t born, but I haven’t heard anything about the result being questioned.
2. Celtic v Atletico Madrid, EC. Madrid’s dirty tactics and physical assaults on Celtic meant Celtic were unable to play their natural footballing game. Madrid had three red cards and seven yellows. Celtic lost the second leg and went out. The Atletico players have since apologised for their behaviour. Where were the cries to allow the team that were wronged to remain in the cup?
3.1984, Celtic v Rapid Vienna, ECWC. A Rapid player claimed to have been hit with a missile, when there was evidence to the contrary. The Rapid coach threw a bottle on to the pitch when Celtic were awarded a penalty. UEFA fined both clubs, but Rapid complained twice and UEFA ordered a replay on neutral ground, which Celtic lost.
4. 2001, Juventus v Celtic, CL. Celtic’s first ever Champions League match was poised at 2-2 in the dying minutes. Juventus striker Nicola Amoruso dived and was awarded a penalty, which he then put away. Celtic lost 3-2, and despite the striker admitting he dived, no action was taken. However, Martin O’Neill received a touchline ban for his reaction.
5. 2004, Celtic v Porto, EC Final. Porto’s theatrics and behaviour in this match were widely condemned. Derlei in particular spent more time rolling around than on his feet. When Porto scored their winner, they celebrated off the field for three minutes without being asked to return to the field by the referee.
6. 2006, Manchester Utd v Celtic, CL. Celtic were leading 1-0 approaching half time at Old Trafford when Ryan Giggs dived to win a penalty as Artur Boruc dropped at his feet as the ball ran out of play. TV replays showed there was no contact, and to be fair, everyone except the referee could see it. Again, UEFA didn’t take any action, nor were they even requested to. Celtic went on to lose the match 3-2. What could they have achieved had they made it to half time in the lead?
7. 2009, Arsenal v Celtic, CL. With the match at 0-0 (although Arsenal led 2-0 from the first leg), Eduardo dived as he passed Artur Boruc as the ball ran out of play. Eduardo himself put away the spot kick and killed off any hopes of a comeback. Prior to the penalty Celtic were competing with Arsenal, and a goal would have changed the dynamic of the match entirely. This time UEFA banned Eduardo for three matches, but Arsenal complained and the ban was rescinded.
One final point. Legia cheated. It was unintentional, but it was against the rules, so it was cheating.
If Celtic were to withdraw and allow Legia back in, would that not set a precedent that would suggest a team can field an ineligible player to win a match, then claim it was a mistake and that they should be let back in on the moral grounds that they thumped the unwitting opponents? Legia should have been allowed representation at the initial hearing and saved a lot of bother for everyone involved, including both teams’ prospective opponents in their next rounds.
In my opinion, the Legia fans have one set of people to be angry with…their own administrative staff.
Regards
Derek Ritchie
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