Sion’s Euro fate to be decided tomorrow

UEFA will decide tomorrow whether Celtic should be reinstated in the Europa League at the expense of Sion.

Uefa yesterday confirmed their control and disciplinary body would meet at 4pm British time to “deal with the two protests lodged by Celtic FC”.

Celtic played both legs of their play-off defeat against the Swiss side under protest over their opponents’ alleged breach of a transfer embargo.

However, the Parkhead club may have to wait for confirmation of their reprieve with Sion having two rights of appeal.

The Swiss outfit would be able to appeal to Uefa within three days of receiving the written explanation of their decision, and could then challenge the ruling in the Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Sion were drawn against Atletico Madrid, Udinese and Rennes in the group stages after their 3-1 aggregate win over Celtic.

Sion had signed five players 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. One of those, Pascal Feindouno, scored two goals against Celtic.

Sion successfully argued in a Swiss civil court the embargo had ended, prompting the Swiss football association to allow them to field the players in their league.

But Uefa president Michel Platini last week offered Celtic genuine hope they could take their place in the group stages.

“FC Sion has not respected the rules of the transfer ban – they signed players and then played those players,” Platini said.

CAS general-secretary Matthieu Reeb last week said that any hearing could be held before the first group stage tie on 15 September, although Uefa had initially been expected to rule on Tuesday.