Celtic have been reinstated into the Europa League after UEFA upheld the club's complaint that Swiss side Sion fielded ineligible players in their play-off matches.
Sion knocked Celtic out of the competition with a 3-1 aggregate victory, but were charged by UEFA for using five ineligible players in the two-legged play-off tie against the Scottish team.
A Celtic spokesperson said on Friday: "We have been advised by UEFA that the two protests relating to the matches against FC Sion have been upheld, as a result of which each match has been forfeited in favour of Celtic.
"We are pleased by this decision, the approach which has been taken by UEFA and the fact that UEFA rules and regulations have been upheld. We are also grateful for the support of the SFA in this matter."
UEFA ruled that Sion's Pascal Feindouno, Gabri, Mario Mutsch, Jose Goncalves and Billy Ketkeophomphone all took the field against Neil Lennon's men even though they weren't eligible.
The five players weren't allowed to play as they were signed with the club still under a transfer ban imposed by FIFA after breaching rules over the signing of Egypt goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary three years ago.
Feindouno scored two goals in the 3-1 second leg win in Switzerland.
Sion were initially drawn against Atletico Madrid, Udinese and Rennes in the group stages of the Europa League, but Celtic say UEFA have told them they will now take the Swiss side's place in the competition.
Sion having two rights of appeal, first to UEFA and the second with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) who maintain they are the final voice.
Source: AFP
