In 2009, UEFA found Swiss club Sion guilty of tapping up goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary and placed a transfer embargo on the club. Although Swiss courts lifted the embargo, UEFA refused to recognise this, despite Sion signing players while ‘banned’ from doing so.
In July, Sion were drawn against Celtic for a Europa League qualifying tie. There was confusion as to whether or not Sion’s signings from the embargo period would be eligible for the competition. Following a disappointing 0-0 draw at Parkhead, Celtic lost 3-1 in Switzerland. After the concession of an early penalty, and Daniel Masjtorovic’s red card, former Celtic target Pascal Feindouno scored twice to put Celtic out.
Following their defeat, Celtic appealed to UEFA over Sion using players signed during the embargo. UEFA decided that Sion had illegally fielded the players and threw them out of the competition. Celtic, awarded 3-0 victories in both legs, progressed to the group stages of the competition. Having replaced Sion, Celtic were added to pot 4 for the group stage draw. When the draw was completed, Celtic found themselves in an extremely challenging group, with 2009 Europa League winners Atletico Madrid, Italian club Udinese (who had been unlucky to lose to Arsenal in the Champions League qualifiers) and French side Rennes.
Between their two legs against Sion, Celtic had suffered a shock defeat by St. Johnstone at Parkhead. After the second leg, Celtic won their next two league fixtures, before travelling to Spain to face Atletico in the first group match. Another early goal (from Madrid’s new signing Falcao) put Celtic on the back foot, and a second goal midway through the second half gave Atletico a comfortable 2-0 win.
This left Celtic facing a trip back to Glasgow, with just two days to prepare for a Sunday lunchtime kick off against Rangers at Ibrox in the first Old Firm match of the season. Manager Neil Lennon made just two changes from the team that started in Madrid, but Celtic found themselves behind after poor defending from Kelvin Wilson had allowed Steven Naismith to give Rangers the lead. But Celtic rallied, with a composed Gary Hooper finish, and then a goalkeeping error by Allan McGregor giving them a 2-1 halftime lead.
The second half was a disaster for Celtic though, as Rangers dominated and scored three goals to win the game 4-2. In addition to falling behind Rangers in the SPL, captain Scott Brown picked up an injury, and defender Charlie Mulgrew was sent off.
After victories over Ross County in the league cup, and a comfortable 2-0 home win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Celtic faced Udinese at Parkhead last Thursday. This time it was Celtic who scored early, as Ki Sung-Yong scored a 3rd minute penalty. But Celtic could not hold the lead, and Udinese equalised with their own penalty in the 88th minute. And on Sunday, Celtic slumped to a 2-0 defeat against Hearts at Tynecastle. A second half goal from Rudi Skacel gave Hearts the lead before Kris Commons was sent off for a reckless challenge. With 10 minutes left, Ryan Stevenson scored Hearts second goal to seal the victory.
The result left Celtic 10 points behind leaders Rangers, and a point behind 2nd placed Motherwell, albeit with a game in hand. Neil Lennon finds himself under mounting pressure while new Rangers manager Ally McCoist has seen pressure on him, following early exits from the Champions League, Europa League and League Cup, ease with Rangers 9 points clear in the SPL. While Celtic were right to appeal following their defeat to Sion, it seems that European football is affecting their league form in a negative way. Three of their four remaining Europa League ties are followed by potentially difficult away trips (Dundee Utd, Motherwell and St. Johnstone) and Celtic cannot afford to fall further behind Rangers, who now only have SPL fixtures to play until the Scottish Cup begins in January.
Neil Lennon is a man under pressure, and if Celtic fall further behind Rangers in the SPL, Celtic’s board could find themselves under pressure to replace him.
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The five toughest possible away games for Celtic following Europa fixtures.That is a deliberate agenda on behalf of Rangers.Is one surprised ? Was one surprised at Collum’s 3 pens/3 red cards at Tannadice ? Was one surprised at Norris’s 2 pens at ICT ? I look forward to Celtic LEAVING this hate-filled leagiue and playing in a league where a green jersey isn’t a reason for instant misfortune.
When MON was at Celtic this fixture manipulation occurred season after season- ie 5 away games at the toughest venues possible after mid-week Euro.
You talk about having a DISHONOURABLE RIVAL ?
You’re right again Adam. Have you contacted UEFA? I feel that you should, there’s definitely conclusive proof of an anti-celtic bias in Scotland, it’s about time someone acted upon it.