Martin O'Neill has had his two-match touchline ban reduced to one game by the UEFA Appeals Body after his controversial dismissal in their recent cup tie against Celta Vigo at Parkhead. The UEFA Control and Disciplinary Committee handed the initial two-match ban to O'Neill at their meeting in early December after he was sent to the stand by French referee Claude Colombo.
But the Celtic boss earned the right stay in the dug-out for the second leg after he put his case forward in person today. But despite his best efforts and backing from the club, O’Neill will be banned for the UEFA Cup first leg tie with Stuttgart on February 20 and was hit with a €6,820 fine.
The Appeals Body also rejected an appeal by Celta Vigo midfielder Peter Luccin against a four-match ban for spitting at John Hartson during the second-leg encounter with Celtic on December 12.
The 23-year-old Frenchman was appealing against January's decision by the UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body, who imposed the ban after viewing video evidence of the incident after the referee missed it.
Celta won the match 2-1, but were eliminated from the UEFA Cup on away goals as a result of Celtic's single-goal win in the first leg.
Filed by Johnny Proby
