Legia Loses Appeal to Get back in Champions League

UEFA says it dismissed Legia Warsaw's appeal against forfeiting its Champions League place for fielding a suspended player against Celtic.

Legia can now seek an urgent Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing before Celtic plays Maribor in the first leg of their playoff next Wednesday.

UEFA says its appeals panel upheld a disciplinary decision awarding Celtic a 3-0 default victory in the second leg of their third-round qualifying match last week in Scotland. Legia had won 2-0.

The ruling sent Celtic through on away goals after Legia won 4-1 in Poland.

UEFA punished Legia for fielding Bartosz Bereszynski as a late substitute in Edinburgh when he was technically still serving a three-match suspension.

Legia failed to register him for the second qualifying round, even though he sat out those matches against St. Patrick's Athletic.