Scottish champions Celtic have been reinstated to the UEFA Champions League following the expulsion of Legia Warsaw by the UEFA Disciplinary Committee due to the fielding of an ineligible player by the Polish club.
Legia Warsaw had beaten Celtic 2-0 at Murrayfield to complete a 6-1 aggregate bashing but the second half introduction of Bartosz Bereszynski – who should have been serving a suspension – during the second leg encounter on Wednesday meant the Poles breached UEFA regulations.
Bereszynski was sent off in Legia’s final Europa League tie last season against Apollon Limassol and received a three-match ban, which normally would have expired after the first leg match against Celtic as Legia had played two matches in the previous round of the Champions League qualifiers.
The full back however was not registered for Legia’s qualifying tie against St. Patrick and hence, had not served his suspension in the two legs of that encounter according to the UEFA Disciplinary Committee.
As a result, Celtic was handed a 3-0 walkover win over Legia Warsaw to qualify for the Champions League playoff round via away goals rule, having lost the first leg 4-1 last week in Warsaw.
Celtic, who have Nigerian international Efe Ambrose in their ranks, will now be entered as a seeded team into the playoff draws holding this morning at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.
Legia Warsaw have five days to appeal the UEFA Disciplinary Committee’s decision.