Reinstate us, Celtic skipper urges UEFA

The Glasgow club were beaten 3-1 on aggregate by Sion in the play-offs but were given hope of a reprieve by UEFA president Michel Platini, who said the Swiss club had “not respected the rules of the transfer ban” by signing five players who are, in the eyes of FIFA, ineligible to play due to a transfer embargo.

Brown has no doubt that Celtic should be taking Sion’s place in a group which includes Atletico Madrid, Udinese and Rennes.

“Yes, I think we should be,” said the Scotland midfielder.

“They played three players that shouldn’t have been allowed to play and at the end of the day you can’t do that, and hopefully UEFA see that as well.”

Scottish Football Association president Campbell Ogilvie has pledged his organisation’s backing to Celtic in their quest, and confirmed Celtic had sought and received help from the SFA.

“Celtic made contact with the SFA, as any member club would do, and the SFA have been backing Celtic,” Ogilvie said yesterday. “The case is being heard this week and as a governing body we would always back one of our clubs in one of these cases.”

It is likely to be next week at least before the issue is fully resolved.