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POLISH FA chief Zbigniew Boniek has branded Legia Warsaw incompetent – as fresh evidence from key figure Bartosz Bereszynski last night blew a gaping hole in his club’s appeal to UEFA.

Bereszynski’s three-minute appearance as a sub against Celtic at Murrayfield led to the Scottish champions’ controversial reinstatement to the Champions League.

Legia’s failure to register the defender for the previous round against St Patrick’s meant he was technically still banned for the ties against Ronny Deila’s team.

And, in a stunning new twist, Record Sport understands Bereszynski raised the suspension issue with Legia hierarchy BEFORE the game.

Polish sources have revealed Warsaw keeper Dusan Kuciak tipped his team-mate off to a potential problem before the Murrayfield clash but that Bereszynski was assured by the club he was clear to play.

UEFA heard Legia’s appeal against expulsion in Nyon this morning but the new calamity surrounding their blunder provides damning evidence.

Bereszynski said: “I will not confirm or deny this information as these are matters which will stay within club walls. Who has to know at the club knows.”

But when asked to confirm the story involving Kuciak, who had encountered a similar case during his spell with Romanians Vaslui, Bereszynski said: “I was convinced the suspension was completed but I can confirm Dusan was first to react.

“He told me there had been a similar situation in Vaslui and I should check it out. Then I started to get interested.”

Bereszynksi’s admission does not look good for the Poles and their own FA chief has also sank the boot in.

Boniek has been critical of Celtic’s refusal to have dialogue but insisted Legia only have themselves to blame.

He said: “The guilt does not lie with UEFA or Celtic but with Legia. The people who are responsible for it have turned out to be completely incompetent. As the head of the Polish FA I would always try to help Legia or any other Polish team.

“I called, I asked, I got strongly involved but the provisions for which Legia were punished left no doubt. It had to be a walkover.

“Could Celtic have behaved differently? I know what I would have done but 95 per cent of clubs are not willing to give up such an opportunity.

“I played in a European Cup Final where 38 people were killed and I was the only player who gave my $100,000 win bonus to the families of the victims but everyone has a different mentality.

“It is clearly written that playing a suspended player means a forfeit. Someone at Legia has made a mistake you should not commit.”

Bereszynski also admitted he had no gripe with Celtic and said: “The fault in this whole affair is not with Celtic, just us.

“This is today’s football. If you are not vigilant at every step you’re out of the game.”