Soccer:Uefa have confirmed FC Sion's appeal against their expulsion from the Europa League has been rejected, allowing Celtic to remain in the competition.
The Swiss club were thrown out of the tournament on September 2nd after being found guilty of fielding ineligible players, with Celtic handed their place in the group stages despite losing the play-offs 3-1 on aggregate.
Sion vowed to fight their expulsion but have lost their appeal to be reinstated following today's hearing.
A Uefa statement confirmed: "The Uefa Appeals Body today rejected FC Sion's appeal against their expulsion from the group stages of this season's Europa League."
Sion claimed this afternoon that a Swiss court had “ordered” Uefa to reinstate the club ahead of Thursday’s opening group game against Atletico Madrid.
A statement on Sion’s official website read: “The civil court has this morning ordered Uefa to admit FC Sion as a participant in the 2011-12 Europa League and to take all the measures necessary to include them in Group I of the Uefa Europa League for which FC Sion have qualified.
“The Canton de Vaud Tribune also orders Uefa to consider the players Stefan Glarner, Billy Ketkeophomphone, Mario Mutsch, Pascal Feindouno, Jose Goncalves and Gabri as eligible as FC Sion players and to admit them in the 2011-12 Uefa Europa League.
“The order has been declared immediately binding.”
It appears, however, Uefa do not agree with the club’s stance and Celtic will be the ones to face Atletico this week.
