Poland’s Legia Warsaw have decided to appeal against their elimination from the UEFA Champions League over the use of a suspended player, saying yesterday they deserved to be in the next stage of the competition.

Legia were stripped of their place despite beating Scottish champions Celtic 6-1 on aggregate because they brought on a suspended player, Bartosz Be-reszynski, for the last few minutes of the second leg they won 2-0 at Murrayfield.

UEFA, European soccer’s governing body, awarded Celtic a 3-0 win as punishment meaning the Scottish side advanced on away goals after the tie finished 4-4 on aggregate.

In a statement the Polish club said UEFA could have reduced the sanction against them or even “nullify it altogether” if it looked at both the objective and subjectives aspects of their case.

“We wish to inform that the above-mentioned argumentation will be used by the club at every stage of the appeal pro-cess,” Legia said.

Celtic have been drawn against NK Maribor of Slovenia in the Champions League playoff round on August 19 or 20, while Legia are due to play in the Europa League against Aktobe, of Kazakhstan.

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