CELTIC could be set to take advantage after it emerged that Champions League opponents FC Midtjylland faced a player against them who still had six world ban matches to serve.
The Danes – who overtook the Hoops in overtime in Denmark – were largely dominated by PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands last night.
But there were major developments ahead of the match – when one of Midtjylland’s Brazilian stars Juninho was ordered not to play in the match.
That’s because he was suspended in June for eight games for allegedly kicking an opponent in a mass brawl at the end of a game involving his loan team Bahia.
This decision was reportedly confirmed by the Brazilian sports court on July 15, two days after his departure for Danish football.
The question was whether this suspension only applied to Brazilian or world football, but a meeting of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee yesterday ruled that it was indeed a blanket ban, of which only two had already served in Brazil before her departure.
They ordered him out of the next six games – starting with PSV – but the decision could open a box of worms with Celtic allowed to ask questions about why the player was deemed eligible to start against them in the second game in Denmark in July. 28.
Before the Fifa hearing, he also played a league game against Viborg.
A statement published on FC Midtjylland’s website last night said they would consider appealing the ruling: “The Brazilian Football Association imposed several quarantines in the spring after a disciplinary case at a match in Brazil, including to Juninho, that obtained eight matches in the stands.
“As part of the move to FC Midtjylland, FIFA had to assess whether the quarantine was exclusively valid at national or world level.
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“The FIFA disciplinary committee met yesterday afternoon, where it was decided to confirm the quarantine of the Brazilian Football Federation from a total of eight days of play, two of which have already been served in Brazil .
“This information was passed on by UEFA a few hours ago, which is why Juninho has been forced to withdraw from tonight’s clash as well as the next five matches in all tournaments.
Sporting director Svend Gravesen said: “We take note of the decision, but do not understand the timing. We are just hours away from an important match for the Champions League qualification in the Netherlands and have no the possibility of taking a replacement. “
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“FC Midtjylland are studying the possibility of appealing the decision.”
UEFA has been contacted for comment, but the ripple effect for Celtic is unlikely to be straightforward.
Midtjylland have already played their third qualifying round against PSV, while Celtic are already in the Czech Republic to face Jablonec in the Europa League third round.
IF European governing body believes Juninho was indeed ineligible to play Celtic on July 28, they could award Celtic a 3-0 win, enough to qualify for the Champions League third qualifying round .
But the deadlines are so tight that it seems impossible for the Hoops to play both sets of a third round draw against PSV.
It’s a nightmare for UEFA to sort out – but one way to fix it would be for Celtic to be guaranteed at least a place in the Europa League group stages, regardless of their results against Jablonec.
It is the least they would have obtained this season if they won over the Danes.
The Hoops have benefited twice in previous seasons from administrative errors by opponents in Europe, first with Sion and then Legia Warsaw.
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