Celtic have been reinstated to the Champions League after UEFA ruled that Poland's Legia Warsaw fielded an ineligible player.
UEFA rule against Legia Warsaw of Poland in Champions League for fielding ineligible player
The European soccer governing body ruled the Polish champions fielded full-back Bartosz Bereszynski for the final three minutes of their 2-0 victory at Murrayfield, a result which earned them a 6-1 aggregate win, despite him not being registered. As a result Celtic were handed a 3-0 'walkover' win for the second leg, taking them through on away goals.
UEFA's investigation centred on Bereszynski's sending-off for violent conduct against Apollon in the final match of Legia's Europa League campaign last season.
He missed both ties against St Patrick's in the second qualifying round and then sat out the first leg against Celtic.
Celtic reinstated to the Champions League after Legia Warsaw fielded ineligible player
But UEFA decided he had not been registered in Legia's squad for the games against the Irish side in order to allow a three-match suspension to take effect.
In a statement, UEFA said: "The UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body have announced that Legia have been sanctioned for fielding an ineligible player in their second leg against Celtic.
"The match has been declared as forfeit and Legia have lost the match 3-0. As a consequence, Celtic have qualified for the play-offs on away goals (agg: 4-4) and Legia will compete in the UEFA Europa League play-offs.
"In addition the player Bartosz Bereszynski has been suspended for one additional UEFA competition match for which he would be otherwise eligible.
"This suspension shall be added to the remaining two-match suspension which the player still has to serve in accordance with the Control and Disciplinary Body decision of 13 February 2014."
In the draw which followed the ruling, Celtic were paired with Maribor of Slovenia for a place in the group stages of the competition.
Celtic have previously been given a reprieve in continental competition in similar circumstances.
Neil Lennon's side were beaten 3-1 on aggregate by Sion in the Europa League three years ago, but the Swiss side were subsequently ejected from the competition after they were found to have fielded ineligible players.
Sion had signed five players while still under a Fifa transfer ban for breaching rules over the signing of Egypt goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary three years earlier.
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