Glasgow Celtic Gain Lifeline Back into Europa Cup at FC Sion Expense

UEFA announced today that Celtic have been reinstated to the Europa League, subject to the expected FC Sion appeal. 

The Swiss club were ejected from the competition due to fielding ineligible players in their qualifying ties with the Glasgow side.

The Swiss side defeated Celtic over the two legs of their playoff to enter the Europa Cup League stages proper last month, but have been forced to forfeit the tie after UEFA made a ruling today relating to Celtic's protest to Sion's fielding of five ineligible players against the Scottish club.

UEFA issued a statement saying: “The UEFA control and disciplinary body dealt with the two protests lodged by Celtic FC against the validity of their UEFA Europa League play-off ties played against FC Sion on 18 and 25 August."

The Scottish club questioned the eligibility of a number of the Sion players who participated, with the Swiss side winning 3-1 on aggregate.

The control and disciplinary body accepted both protests and decided to award both ties to Celtic by forfeit (3-0). As a consequence, Celtic are qualified for the UEFA Europa League group stage.

“We are pleased by this decision, the approach which has been taken by UEFA and that UEFA rules and regulations have been upheld," Celtic responded in their own statement. "We are also grateful for the support of the Scottish FA.”

The ruling means that Celtic will re-enter the Europa Cup in Group I along with Rennes, Atletico Madrid and Udinese, who lost its Champions League play-off to Arsenal.

Martin Lawell from Celtic said, "This group of teams are more Champions League-like than Europa Cup and we are just happy to be involved again."

Celtic will open their account in an away tie to Spanish side Athletico Madrid on September 15 followed by their first home match against Udinese two weeks later.