SFA backs Celtic in Uefa tangle with Sion

The Parkhead 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.

Celtic played both games under protest, and Uefa’s control and disciplinary body is set to make a ruling on the case, possibly as early as today.

SFA president Campbell Ogilvie confirmed that 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,” he said.

“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. If there is a breach of rules then Uefa will certainly take whatever sanctions are necessary, but the SFA would certainly back a member club in this case.

“The nature of football now, with regulations and legalities, means it is quite a complex issue. The decision is for Uefa but if someone has been proved to have breached regulations then a sanction should be taken.”

A spokesman for Uefa said the timing of the control and disciplinary body meeting had yet to be confirmed. Even if the ruling does take place today, it is likely to be next week at least before the issue is finally resolved.

But with group games set to start on 15 September, there is an urgency to reach a decision. The spokesman said: “There is the ability to appeal the decision, and a club is given three days to do that from the time they get the full written submission of the decision. The last stage is CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) and a date would have to be set.”