An ordinary club

This may come across as a WUM, but it is not intended to be so. It may seem bitter, or biased, but hopefully my previous comments/articles will show that I am hopefully fairly level headed and fair.

For as long as I can remember, I have heard so much about the special club that is Glasgow Celtic. They have been elevated to such a height of moral and ethical superiority by many of their followers that the other clubs should feel proud just to be in their presence.

I think, however, that the events surrounding the removal of Legia from the CL finally confirms that Celtic are just a club like any other - when push comes to shove, money talks.

I'm not criticising Celtic for this - tell me a club that would have done otherwise. I certainly know that Rangers would have done the same, and as a Rangers supporter, I would have done the same as most Celtic supporters have in justifying the decision. Rules are rules and all that. Serves them right for being so incompetent, etc.

But look at the facts. It was an error of omission. A poor error to make, but it is hard to believe there was any sinister or underhand motive. If it had had an impact on the game or the result or could in any way even have had the possibility of doing so then fair enough. But the guy played for 3 minutes when the tie was long since dead. There could not have been any intent to gain an advantage by Legia, and there was never any likelihood that they would. So the question is....

.... did the punishment fit the crime?

Another question to ask is, if this was AC Milan or Man Utd and not Legia (yes, they would never have let it happen, but just imagine they did) would the outcome have been the same?

Anyway, just to return to the title of the OP, it's easy to be magnanimous and generous and ethically and morally upright when there is little to lose, but when there is a lot to lose, that is when the true test of your greatness shows. Someone said that Uefa would not allow Celtic to decline their place, and that may be so, but unless there has been something going on in the background which we know nothing of (and if that is the case then I fully recant all I have said), then we will never get the chance to know.

So Celtic, please climb down off of your pedestal and join the rest of us ordinary clubs. The air is a bit less rarified, but I'm sure you'll get on just fine.