CELTIC GLASGOW HIDING BEHIND UEFA'S SHOCKING DISREGARD OF THE SPIRIT OF FAIR PLAY

Poland's football (or soccer, if you prefer) seems to be on the rise. Except for one or two clubs of 16- teams Polish Ekstraklasa, all the clubs play nowadays in either new or renovated stadiums, the money supply is slowly rising, and the Polish footballers are regaining the spotlight they used to enjoy in 1970-s and 1980-s, when Poland's national team twice came 3rd in World Cups (1974 and 1982) and players like Lato, Deyna, Lubanski, Gadocha, Tomaszewski or Zibi Boniek were world-wide renowned stars. The new generation is graced by Robert Lewandowski, Jakub "Kuba" Blaszczykowski, Lukasz Piszczek, Wojciech Szczesny or Artur Boruc. This year Legia Warsaw, the former club of Kazimierz Deyna, the playmaker of 1974 national team of Poland, who was selected as no 3 player of 1974 World Cup (just behind Johan Cruyff and Franz Beckenbauer) confirmed the improvement of Polish soccer by destroying Celtic Glasgow in 3rd qualifying round of Champions League by aggregate score of 6:1 (4:1 in Poland, and 2:0 in Scotland), despite wasting two penalty shots and many more occasions. But soon it turned out that not everything is so rosy in the real world and that sun shines at different angles for rich men, and poor men. Before Legia Warsaw players stopped celebrating the fully deserved double victory and qualification to the Champions League playoffs - the final round of qualifications to lucrative group stage of UEFA Champions League - there came a news that Legia might have fielded for the last four minutes of the away game in Scotland, when their win and qualification were already assured, a player who might have been ineligible to play due to earlier suspension. However, Legia Warsaw released in Poland a statement that there should not be a problem of ineligibility of the player, Bartosz Bereszynski, who was suspended for three matches because of a red card from previous season. They were under impression that the player served the suspension fully by abstaining from three matches of Champions League in this very campaign (two matches against St. Patrick of Ireland, in 2nd qualifying round of Champions League, and first match against Celtic in Warsaw, Poland). However, Legia Warsaw forgot about an old and obscure rule requiring that the name of the player serving suspension be placed on match statements, filed with UEFA after each game. The chairman of Legia Warsaw, with all necessary documentation flew on Thursday to Nyon, Switzerland, to the headquarters of UEFA disciplinary body, to prove that Bartosz Bereszynski was Legia Warsaw player throughout those three qualifying games in which he did not play, as he was serving the 3-match suspension, and to prove that the omission of his name on the match statements was just a clerical error. However, Mr. Mioduski wasn't allowed to see the UEFA's disciplinary body whereas Celtic Glasgow was pressing quietly through their allies behind the closed door for walkover decision in the match played in Scotland. When Mr. Mioduski finally saw the UEFA people, the decision of a 3:0 walkover in the match played in Scotland was already made. It is interesting to note that the rate of payments for tv transmission of Celtic Glasgow matches are much higher than for those paid for Legia Warsaw matches, and that UEFA stands to make much more money from the Celtic matches in Champions League group stage than from those of Legia. What is also interesting is that UEFA public announcement did not even mention the fact that Bartosz Bereszynski in fact served the suspension (except for reporting irregularity on the match statements sent to UEFA), instead UEFA just reported to the public that Legia Warsaw fielded ineligible player in the match played in Scotland (Celtic Glasgow v. Legia Warsaw 0:2) and because of that the result was nullified and Celtic was awarded a 3:0 result by walkover. So, not only Legia wasn't allowed to explain anything before the decision was reached,  but also the UEFA statement implies to ignorant readers that Legia Warsaw cheated by fielding ineligible player which is far from the truth. The UEFA announcement does not only fail to mention that player de facto served his full suspension, except for match statements irregularity, it also does not mention that he was fielded for inconsequential 4 minutes, when the result and Legia's qualification was already assured on the pitch. I understand that if one sticks to the letter of the law, UEFA might be right. However, since the offence was unintentional, miniscule and had no bearing on the result on the pitch, the strict adherence to the letter of the law by UEFA was a highway robbery perpetrated on Legia club and players. Also, the same UEFA in 2011, in similar situation, when Debrecen of Hungary fielded for 4 minutes not registered player in match against champion of Bulgaria, UEFA did not disqualify Debrecen - stating that the offence was inconsequential - for obvious reason: Debrecen opponent was from lowly Bulgaria, enjoying almost the same lowly status as the Hungarians. To Legia Warsaw UEFA could not apply the spirit of the law as it did toward Debrecen, as Legia's opponent was the famous Celtic Glasgow, from rich U.K., with people from U.K. sitting on various UEFA committees, and with bigger television rights piece of pie from the lucrative U.K. market. So, the reason for double standard is quite clear. Legia Warsaw will of course appeal as soon as UEFA issues its facts and findings in support of the decision, however, the participation of Celtic in the final qualification round to Champions League will go on, and it will jeopardize Legia's chances on appeal. Therefore, chairman of Legia, Mr. Mioduski, attempted to contact Celtic people by telephone to discuss the Celtic's position, but Celtic didn't answer any communication from Legia. Mr. Mioduski decided then to publish an open letter to Celtic, reminding them the fair play traditions of famous Celtic Glasgow, and asking for a meeting to work out a joint statement to UEFA. Predictably, Celtic people refused any meeting and hide themselves behind the UEFA decision. What's more, they have audacity to claim that they are furious at Legia and otherwise disappointed! It appears that official UEFA delegate for the match in Scotland saw Bereszynski's name on the match statement prior to the match, and did not voice his objections until the match was over. I reckon he must have winked to Celtic officials to assure them that everything will end up well for the Bhoys, notwithstanding the result on the pitch. From the little irregularity on the paper, notwithstanding the resounding success of Legia on the pitch (without using the questionably ineligible player), the latter, although growing and with modern new stadium, is still a poor club comparing to the famous Celtic. The more acute will be their loss of approximately $30,000,000.00 should they have qualified to the group stage, whereas Celtic might undeservedly reap the same $30,000,000 amount thanks to shady dealings by UEFA and people supporting Celtic in UEFA committees. The decision by UEFA is so shocking, that even the New York Times jumped on Legia Warsaw wagon, expressing the outrage the decision caused all over Europe, and even across the big pond, in the United States. So much for transparency and fair play concepts, so vociferously espoused by British media when it suits their purposes and interests. I wonder why those U.K. defenders of those high concepts are not crying foul now? They were much louder when they screamed: do not go to Euro 2012 if you do not want to come back in a coffin! So much for equality. After all, double standards do not disappear from this world. Its the eternal rich men, poor men!  

Janusz Andrzejewski is a New York City based attorney, writing on legal and other community important subjects. You can contact him by telephone (212-634-4250),  or, by e-mail: janusz@januszandrzejewski.com