i really don't see why all this fuss. legia are a professional club, right? they're not an amateur club. they have people working for them, right? people who are paid to do what we might assume isn't exactly a very difficult job...
they knew the rules... and the consequences of their violantion. they are the ones who messed up. so what are we talking about exactly?
and why would it be "noble" or "decent" on celtic's part to step back? have legia been unfairly treated perhaps? no, they simply paid the price for their sloppiness, as it happens to all of us in our lives.
they were responsible of their own misfortune... and even though the penalty might appear way too harsh, the people at legia were aware of that penalty, which was all the more reason to focus on their job.
it is noble or decent to sacrifice onself in order to right a wrong, but there's no wrong to be righted here; and if celtic were to step back (which they obviously won't, and rightfully so) they wouldn't get any plaudit from the likes of me. i would simply laugh at their stupidity.
it's also worth mentioning that, as edmundo already pointed out, fifa would most definitely punish celtic if they were to take any course of action other than taking legia's spot.
and even that punishment wouldn't be harsh or undeserved, because stupidity, just like sloppiness, has its own price.
i'm 100% with edmundo on this one.
i sympathize with legia players, who beated their opponent on the pitch, but it was their own club who let them down, not fifa, and certainly not celtic.