Debrecen made the same mistake a few years ago and got a small fine for it. It's nothing more than a clerical error. I suppose you think someone should be strung up because they stole a loaf of bread because "rules are rules" and it's difficult to understand concepts of proportional sentencing.
In this case, rules have to be enforced or Celtic could call foul and sue for loss of earnings. Proportionate sentencing could be interpreted as bias. Not saying not tough on Legia, but it was their mistake.
The difference between this and the Debrecen case (apparently) is that the Debrecen player was just unregistered, whereas this player was suspended. I guess the former is a less serious offense because he could have been registered to play with just a bit of paperwork. Arsenal Kyiv fielded a suspended player once and the result was the same - disqualified. They don't really do proportion for this kind of thing; it's very cut and dry. I sympathise because it's an incredibly tough sentence, but they knew the rules going into the game and they were negligent.
It all seems a bit daft, because the Legia player could have played with just a bit of paperwork - the bit of paperwork to officially register him for the St Pats game which would have served his suspension. I just can't see a justification for booting a team out of the Champions League for what's essentially an error in paperwork that had no actual impact on anything. I've never really been one for "rules are rules" because logical and practical outcomes are always fairest, following rules strictly leads to bizarre situations like this.
Whilst discussing the rules are important, does this mean that the alleged transfer is off? That's really what we care about
Celtic are ****e and will be humiliated. Yay, commentators will be ****ing when they push a big team close with 11 men behind the ball.
Well Celtic still have another match to play to qualify to CL, and considering how poor they are, they'll no doubt lose it.
