Celtic reinstated to Champions League, to face Slovenian side Maribor

For the second time in four years, Celtic have been reinstated into the Champions League thanks to the oversight of its opponent for fielding an ineligible player.

Celtic will play Maribor of Slovenia in the qualifying round after a UEFA investigation found Legia Warsaw guilty of fielding an ineligible player in the final leg of the third qualifying round of the tournament.

The Polish side would have cruised into the next leg of the tournament after compiling an aggregate score of 6-1, but made the fateful decision to introduce defender Bartosz Bereszynski in the final match while they led 2-0 at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh. Bereszynski, however, was supposed to be serving a suspension for a red card he received during last season's Europa League when he was disciplined for violent conduct.

As a result of UEFA's decision, Celtic were handed a 3-0 victory, which gave them the advantage on away goals after their 4-1 defeat in Poland in the previous match.

UEFA released the following statement, via The Guardian, on further punishment for Bereszynski:

“In addition the player Bartosz Bereszynski has been suspended for one additional UEFA competition match for which he would be otherwise eligible. This suspension shall be added to the remaining two-match suspension which the player still has to serve in accordance with the control and disciplinary body decision of Feb. 13, 2014.”

While Legia Warsaw have been kicked out of Europe's biggest tournament, they've been handed a lifeline as they will now be placed into the Europa League qualifying round.

Celtic were the beneficiaries of a similar ruling during the qualifying stages of the 2011-12 Europa League when their opponents, FC Sion of Switzerland, were found guilty of fielding five ineligible players and the Scottish side was reinstated into the group stage.