CLOSED DOORS FOR LEGIA WARSAW

CELTIC’S old foes Legia Warsaw must play two matches behind closed doors after having an appeal turned down by UEFA.

The governing body punished the Polish side following racist behaviour from the club’s supporters in a Europa League match against SK Lokeren in Belgium in November 27.

Referee Michael Koukoulakis was forced to halt the game so that an announcement could be made to the visiting contingent warning them to refrain from such misbehaviour.

Legia, whose fans also set off fireworks and launched objects, subsequently lodged an appeal, but UEFA has upheld its original ruling.

The club are also banned from selling tickets to supporters for their next away Europa League tie, while a fine of almost £80,000 has been imposed.

It’s the second time the Warsaw outfit have found themselves being punished by UEFA this season.

They were fined over an anti-UEFA banner displayed during a Europa League clash with Aktobe, with fans objecting to the governing body’s decison to throw the club out of the Champions League for fielding an ineligible player against Celtic in the play-offs.

The Poles won the second leg 2-0 at Murrayfield for a 6-1 aggregate victory before Europe’s ruling body awarded the tie in favour of the SPFL champions.

A subsequent appeal from Legia was also thrown out.

Adding to their Euro woes, Legia were fined over crowd disturbances at Metalist Kharkiv in their tie in the Ukraine.