Martin O'Neill will be allowed to sit in the dug-out for Celtic's UEFA cup second leg tie away to Spanish outfit Celta Vigo on Thursday after European soccer chiefs agreed to hear his appeal against a touchline ban.
Former Leicester manager O'Neill was ordered into the stands by French referee Claude Columbo during the first leg at Parkhead, a ruling which carried with it a two-game ban.
But O'Neill appealed and UEFA will hear his case sometime early in January.
In the meantime Columbo's verdict has effectively been suspended, leaving O'Neill free to take up his usual coaching position in the dug-out on Thursday.
A UEFA spokesman said: "The appeal over Martin O'Neill will be held at the start of next year.
"O'Neill will now be allowed to sit on the bench for the UEFA Cup tie at Celta Vigo on Thursday."
O'Neill hit the headlines again Saturday when, after the Scottish champions lost their position at the top of the table to Rangers following a 3-2 defeat by their Glasgow rivals, he reacted angrily to questions from a BBC radio reporter about his team selection.