Hope for Celtic as Uefa probe eligibility of Legia player

Celtic could be handed a sensational Champions League reprieve after Uefa launched an investigation into the eligibility of one of Legia Warsaw’s players during their 6-1 aggregate win over the Scottish champions.

The Polish side confirmed that they had been asked for information from the European governing body.

A statement on Legia’s official website read: “The club announces that in connection with the Celtic FC-Legia Warsaw match in the second leg of the third qualifying round of the Champions League, Uefa opened an investigation into the participation of Bartosz Bereszynski.

“The club is preparing the relevant information and explanations, which will be sent to Uefa today.

“The result of the investigation will be announced immediately after its completion.”

The full-back made an appearance as a substitute two minutes before the end of Legia’s 2-0 second-leg victory at Murrayfield Stadium.

Bereszynski was sent off in Legia’s final Europa League tie last season against Apollon Limassol.

In 2010, Uefa fined Debrecen £15,000 but rejected a protest from opponents Litex Lovech, who wanted the Hungarian side kicked out of the tournament for fielding an ineligible player.

Debrecen argued that they fielded Peter Mate in good faith as a substitute in Bulgaria when they were leading 4-1 on aggregate.

Uefa ruled that Debrecen had “no interest in fielding this player for the three last minutes of additional time, when the score was so clearly in its favour.”