Celtic were tonight forced to wait for a UEFA ruling as AC Milan sought to ensure next month's Champions League clash would go ahead under normal circumstances at the San Siro.

Milan are pulling out all the stops, attempting to hurry through improvements and modernisation to the San Siro which they initially had predicted would take until October to complete.

They have been told that new turnstiles must be installed before supporters can be admitted, presenting a massive challenge to overcome in a short space of time.

Stadium officials have been given until Tuesday to convince Italian government authorities that the San Siro, also home to Inter Milan, has been brought up to the requested standards.

The famous stadium was one of 25 venues declared unsuitable to host spectators after security checks carried out this week, action arising from the death of policeman Filippo Raciti in crowd violence at last Friday's Sicily derby between Catania and Palermo.

Rather than make a swift decision to relocate the March 7 second leg of the last-16 tie, UEFA are prepared to give the Italians more time to carry out improvements to their ground.

However the logistics of staging such a high-profile match means the saga cannot be allowed to rumble on beyond the middle of next week, and the Stade de Geneve, in Switzerland, remains a fall-back option.

In a statement referring to Celtic's match in Milan, and Inter's Champions League home match against Valencia on February 21, UEFA declared: "There is a possibility that these could go ahead in Milan depending on work to be done at the stadium.

"Further information on these two matches is expected early next week after further evaluation of the stadium."

Milan's Serie A match against Livorno on Sunday is due to be played behind closed doors, however the club were petitioning the Italian authorities today to allow season-ticket holders access to the stadium.

UEFA's new president Michel Platini, a former Juventus player, discussed the ongoing situation with Italian Football Federation (FIGC) officials in Nyon.

Scotland also face a wait before learning where their Euro 2008 qualifier against Italy will be staged.

The FIGC had designated the southern Italian city of Bari as the venue for the match which pits the World Cup holders against the surprise leaders of Group B.

However, Bari's Stadio San Nicola has been listed in the same group as the San Siro.

Given that Scotland's match falls three weeks after Celtic's trip to Milan, it is a decision which is not as pressing.

Only Rome's Stadio Olimpico, Genoa's Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Turin's Stadio Olimpico, Palermo's Stadio Renzo Barbera, Siena's Stadio Artemio Franchi and Cagliari's Stadio Sant'Elia have passed the safety tests so far.