FC Sion has claimed it won a court injunction against UEFA that invalidates Europa League victories for Atletico Madrid and Udinese.
Sion said the ruling in UEFA's home canton (state) of Vaud means Thursday's results and the group standings are invalid if the Swiss club is excluded.

Atletico won 2-0 against Celtic - which was reinstated to the competition after UEFA kicked out Sion - and Udinese beat Rennes 2-1.

"Without FC Sion, the court will not authorise the validation of results in Group I of the Europa League," the club said in a statement.

UEFA said it was not represented in court and had no comment on Sion's latest legal action.

European football's governing body and its member federation in Switzerland are bound by FIFA's world football statutes, which forbid clubs going to civil courts to settle disputes.

Sion has challenged UEFA on several fronts since being expelled from the Europa League for fielding ineligible players when beating Celtic in the playoff round last month.

"Sion fights against the injustice of which I am a victim, and will fight to the end," club president Christian Constantin said.

The same Vaud court awarded Sion a provisional ruling on Tuesday which said UEFA should restore the club to the competition.

Four hours later, UEFA's appeals panel dismissed Sion's request to get back in.

That ruling upheld Celtic's formal protest that Sion had selected five players in its playoff last month who were signed in the off-season in breach of a FIFA transfer ban. Sion won 3-1 on aggregate.

UEFA President Michel Platini then chaired an emergency meeting that insisted Celtic must be reinstated in the interests of "sporting fairness".

Sion has pledged to challenge the UEFA appeal ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which could also consider the club's claim for 5 million euro ($6.75 million) in compensation.

Constantin has asked Vaud prosecutors to launch a criminal probe against UEFA for ignoring a civil court.

He also wrote to Swiss lawmakers on Wednesday demanding that they remove tax-break privileges enjoyed by UEFA and FIFA.

UEFA finally gets an opportunity to face Sion lawyers in the Vaud court on September 27, at a scheduled full hearing to consider Tuesday's provisional measure.

The next round of Group I matches is September 29. Celtic is scheduled to host Udinese, and Atletico travels to Rennes.

The dispute started in 2008 when Sion broke FIFA transfer rules by signing goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary midseason while he was under contract to Egyptian club Al-Ahly.

FIFA's decision to impose a one-year transfer ban was upheld by CAS and the Swiss supreme court.

Sion contends that it served the ban cumulatively and should have been allowed to register players signed this summer.

Sion is preparing for another CAS appeal against the Swiss Football League over blocked player registrations.

Swiss clubs have filed protests after each match this season when Sion has fielded its apparently ineligible players.
http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1073085/Sion-claims-new-legal-victory

"Sion fights against the injustice of which I am a victim, and will fight to the end," club president Christian Constantin said

Team news for Sunday lunchtime's Scottish Premier League Old Firm derby clash between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox (kick-off 12.30pm).

Rangers are boosted by the return of Nikica Jelavic.

The striker has recovered from a knee injury, while Lee McCulloch, Alejandro Bedoya and Sasa Papac have also been passed fit for the visit of Celtic.

The clash at Ibrox comes too soon for David Weir, Lee Wallace and Jamie Ness, while Kyle Bartley continues his recovery from a hernia operation.

Celtic boss Neil Lennon will have several players back in contention.

Skipper Scott Brown and striker Anthony Stokes are fighting to recover from their respective ankle and thigh injuries which kept them out of the Europa League defeat at Atletico Madrid, with the former looking to have the better chance.

Defender Daniel Majstorovic, who was banned for the trip to Spain, and left-back Badr El-Kaddouri, who was cup-tied, are both back in the squad.

Rangers (from): McGregor, Whittaker, Bocanegra, Ortiz, Goian, Broadfoot, Wylde, McKay, Davis, Edu, McCulloch, Naismith, Lafferty, Perry, Healy, Kerkar, Alexander, Fleck, Jelavic, Bedoya, Papac.

Celtic (from): Forster, Mark Wilson, El-Kaddouri, Matthews, Kelvin Wilson, Majstorovic, Loovens, Mulgrew, Kayal, Brown, Ki, Ledley, Bangura, Hooper, Forrest, Commons, Stokes, Samaras, Zaluska, Filip Twardzik, Wanyama.

It drags on again.....WHEN WILL IT END!?

It's ended, Sion just don't know it yet.

Why do people want to Kill Neil Lennon

Fantastic Article/Interview with Lenny.

Really not sure what to think about tonight. We should thump them, they're a rabble at the moment, but OF game's never go the way they're supposed to.

Is it a lunchtime kickoff?

Yep. 9:30pm Melbourne Time.

We should probably listen to him, Rangers would know a lot about being embarrassed in Europe.

How about being embarrassed in Glesga ???

We were just poor. Back 4 looked shaky all day, and then when it was a back 3 we were just flooded. No creativity in the middle, just long balls to Sammy, and then when he went off, long balls to 2 short forwards against 6'+ CB's. Only good bit of play was Hoopers goal. We were gifted the 2nd. Don't think we had a shot on goal in the 2nd half. Just shit.

:lol: \:d/

Nice of you two to show up for your occasional visits that seem to completely only occur when Rangers win. Weathers a bit fair today, don't you think?

Well domestically at least,we always seem to win, so i promise you i will come on more often ! lovely day for it BTW !

Celtic booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Scottish Communities League Cup after seeing off the challenge of Ross County.

County, looking to repeat their 2010 Scottish Cup win over Celtic, fell behind when Gary Hooper tapped home on the line after 13 minutes.

The hosts almost levelled when Michael Gardyne's piledriver rattled the post.

Scott Boyd's own goal gave Celtic a healthier lead and Neil Lennon's side were comfortable thereafter.

Celtic join Scottish Premier League contemporaries Dundee United, Hibernian, Kilmarnock, St Mirren, Division One Falkirk and Second Division East Fife in the last eight.

The visitors moved into the lead after Charlie Mulgrew's corner had been cleared and then retrieved by Anthony Stokes.
Daniel Majstorovic and Gary Hooper

The striker's cross back into the danger area was headed down by Joe Ledley to the predatory Hooper, who added the final touch.

Celtic were having some success from Mulgrew's deliveries, County taking several attempts to clear after another inswinging corner from the left-sided player.

County's fans were on their feet moments later, only to have their celebrations cut short.

Michael Gardyne hovered on the D of the penalty area as the Celtic defence cleared and smacked a volley against the base of Fraser Forster's left-hand post.

Goalkeeper Michael Fraser was quick off his line to block an effort by Ledley after the Welshman had been put through by Hooper.

Colin McMenamin was unable to get enough purchase on a shot that Forster claimed but the Highlanders' ability to get the ball forward quickly was causing Celtic problems.

However, Celtic doubled their lead seven minutes after the break.

Hooper forced a save from Fraser but County failed to clear their lines and Stokes's low cross was turned into the net by Boyd.

Pressure continued to be exerted on the Ross County backline and a late intervention by the experienced Grant Munro averted the danger posed by Forrest.

Celtic retained possession well in the closing stages and Fraser made an excellent save late on to deny substitute Paul George from close range.

Celtic manager Neil Lennon:

"I'm delighted, it wasn't easy. It never is coming to a First Division ground, the conditions were difficult to play in.

"We were very professional and it was exactly the reaction I was looking for from the players.

"The attitude and the manner we approached the game in was what I wanted.

"The football we played at times in the final third was very good. I'm also very pleased with the clean sheet.

"There were some very good individual performances."

Ross County manager Derek Adams:

"We started the game very well. We lost a bad goal but after that Michael Gardyne hit the post.

"In the second half, no complaints. I thought that Celtic thoroughly deserved to win the match.

"We went 2-0 down and there was only one winner after that.

"Celtic were far too strong for us. They're at a different level from us.

"I'm proud of the players and the way they stuck to their task. We caused them problems at times."

:d :d :d :d :d

Celtic overcame a determined Inverness Caledonian Thistle side to remain four points behind Scottish Premier League leaders Rangers.

Gregory Tade had an effort saved by Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster before Joe Ledley fired the hosts ahead.

James Forrest added a second on 33 minutes, finishing off a clinical counter attack.

Anthony Stokes should have registered a third and Richie Foran's diving header required a smart save by Forster.

The result means Inverness become detached at the bottom of the division, a point behind Aberdeen and Hibernian.

With Rangers having won at Dunfermline earlier in the day, Celtic knew they had to win to bring the gap back to four.

But it was Inverness who were livelier early on and the Highlanders twice caused problems on Celtic's left-hand side.

First, Gregory Tade ghosted in behind the Celtic defence to latch on to a long ball, but his shot was saved by Forster, who had raced off his line.
James Forrest celebrates scoring for Celtic against Inverness with Anthony Stokes

Moments later, Foran's low centre was deflected just out of the reach of Nick Ross.

The Celtic defence of Daniel Majstorovic and Glenn Loovens looked uncomfortable when Inverness came forward at pace and it took the hosts a while to find their rhythm.

But Ledley lifted the home crowd when he took an excellent first touch off Beram Kayal's pass, pushed forward and drilled a low shot inside Ryan Esson's right-hand post.

Celtic were soon two ahead after a terrific counter attack. An Inverness corner was cleared and Ki Sung-Yueng's incisive pass from halfway put Forrest through on goal, the winger finishing well past Esson.

Greg Tansey had two attempts for the visitors before half-time, but neither troubled Forster.

The pace of the game dropped after the break, Celtic comfortable in possession for long spells.

Forrest and Gary Hooper combined to set up Anthony Stokes in the six-yard box.

But, with only the keeper to beat, the striker lifted his effort high over the bar.

Mohamed Bangura took the place of Hooper and the physicality of the Sierra Leone striker created some nervous moments for the Inverness backline.

The visitors carved out an excellent chance when Graeme Shinne crossed for the diving Foran and Forster reacted well to claw the ball over.

With that, the Highlanders' chances of salvaging something from the game ended as Celtic saw out their win.

Manager: European nights are special at Celtic Park


NEIL Lennon and his backroom team of Johan Mjallby and Alan Thompson know from their playing days what Celtic Park sounds like on a European night, and they want to feel that sense of passion and emotion again now they have progressed into management.

Gearing up for Thursday evening’s UEFA Europa League clash with Udinese, the manager emphasised how important the 12th man is on a night like this.

He said: “There’s no better place on a European night than here at Celtic Park, and the players have to try and set a tempo that the crowd can respond to. If that happens it’s normally a great night.

“It lifts the players’ performances and it lifts the team as a whole. Getting that unity around the stadium is fantastic.

“A lot of them are new to this, it’s an experience they haven’t had before. We had a touch of it in the Sion game when the atmosphere was great and there was a good atmosphere again on Saturday.

“The supporters are with the players and it’s up to them to keep it that way and put on a performance to please the supporters.”

The Italian side, who currently sit joint top of Serie A, second to Juventus only on goal difference, will provide a stiff test for the Hoops. And with the Italians having opened up their UEFA Europa League campaignn with a 2-1 victory against Rennes, the manager knows Celtic can’t sit back against them.

“We’re going to be positive and we will try and take the game to Udinese who are a class side,” he continued.

“We’ve had them watched three times now and they are a brilliant counter-attacking team as well, as we’ve seen against Arsenal.

“They are one of the best sides in the Serie A at the minute and are full of danger, but with us being the home team we will try and take the game to them if we can.”

After conceding early goals in the last two European games, the manager wants to see his defence start positively tomorrow.

“There seems to be a running theme in the last few games,” he said. “In the Sion and Madrid games we’ve conceded early, but you need maximum concentration and I want us to go out there, get the crowd on our side as early as possible and set a good tempo.

“We’ve worked on a few things and hopefully we can keep the doors shut. It’s important we get plenty of the ball and work Udinese defensively as best we can as well.

“We have to be careful, and aware, but the onus is on us and patience might be a virtue in this game. We’re not going to be able to attack at every opportunity but we’ll try and attack from various aspects of the pitch and we will put out forward-thinking players.”

Rudi Skacel and Ryan Stevenson were on target as Hearts moved up to fourth place in the Scottish Premier League with a win over 10-man Celtic.

Fifty-eight minutes into a helter-skelter contest, Skacel drilled in a great strike from 16 yards.

Celtic then had midfielder Kris Commons sent off for an ugly, late challenge on Adrian Mrowiec.

Hearts sealed the points when Stevenson picked up a clever back-heel from David Templeton to crash home a shot.

The victory pushes the men in maroon up to fourth place in the Scottish Premier League, while Celtic remain in third spot, ten points adrift of leaders Rangers.

Neil Lennon's side have lost three of their league fixtures this term, compared to just four defeats over the course of last season.

Tynecastle passed a morning pitch inspection following heavy overnight rain and the home side started like lightning on the zippy, wet turf.

The Celtic defence was caught napping at a fourth-minute free kick from Ian Black, with Hearts' lone striker Ryan Stevenson allowed a free diving header that Fraser Forster did well to tip round his post.

Soon after, Hearts skipper Marius Zaliukas hit the post with a shot from the penalty edge of the box, with Forster unsighted by a cluster of players following a corner.

Celtic took a while to get their strikers involved as a frenetic midfield battle raged on in the Edinburgh rain but the visitors should have taken the lead on 20 minutes.

A poor header from Danny Grainger allowed James Forrest to scamper forward and cross from the right to find Bangura but the recent arrival's close-range header was not powerful enough and Jamie MacDonald got down smartly to make a fine stop.

From the resulting corner, Kris Commons drilled in a shot that MacDonald had to turn away at his near post.

The game deteriorated, with the flow regularly interrupted due to the number of fouls being committed but both sides continued to fashion chances.


Forster made a fantastic save at full stretch to prevent Hamill's curling free-kick from 20 yards finding the top corner and MacDonald's palms were stung by a thunderous long-range strike from Commons before the interval.

Celtic made a strong start to the second half, with some sharp passing in midfield forcing the home side to sit deeper and deeper.

However, Hearts took the lead out of the blue when Hamill hoisted a high ball into the penalty area and Skacel latched on to a touch from David Templeton to rifle a fierce, angled shot beyond Foster from 16 yards.

And things went from bad to worse for the visitors six minutes later as Commons was shown a straight red card for a late lunge at Mrowiec after losing control of the ball inside the centre circle.

Celtic responded with a shot from substitute Mark Wilson that was parried wide by MacDonald but Hearts were further ahead on 81 minutes.

Templeton scurried after a long ball over the top of the Celtic defence and conjured up a back-heel on the byeline that fell nicely for Stevenson, who was composed enough to evade the advancing Forster before slamming a shot high into the net.

The depleted visitors could not find a way back against a resolute Hearts defence, with the home side happy to hit on the break over the closing minutes.

A Swiss court has upheld FC Sion’s appeal against its ban by Uefa and ordered that the club be reinstated in the Europa League, the club said on Wednesday.
In a statement posted on its website, the club said the civil court in Lausanne had ruled that the actions of European football's governing body “appear contrary to its own regulations and are unjustified”.

According to Sion, Uefa has been ordered to immediately reinstate FC Sion in the Europa League and to pay the club some SFr55,000 ($60,000) in damages and legal costs.
 
Uefa expelled Sion for fielding players it signed in breach of a transfer ban by football's world governing body, Fifa, during its playoff match against Glasgow Celtic.
 
In a statement on Wednesday, Fifa’s Emergency Committee backed Uefa’s stance and called on the Swiss Football Association to “execute the decision of the Swiss Football League’s appeal body” which rejected Sion’s request to register six players for the 2011 summer transfer period.
 
“The Swiss FA has also been reminded of its obligation, in accordance with the Fifa statutes, to ensure that its own members comply with the statutes, regulations and decisions of Fifa bodies,” Fifa said.
http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/sport/FC_Sion_says_court_ruled_in_its_favour.html?cid=31287630

At first it was just petty from Sion, but now it is well and truly pathetic.

Pathetic true but it could just pay off now...