The Celtic View at the time expressed the club’s misgivings: “Needless to say Celtic would have accepted and abided by the decision if the lottery had gone against them. But since they won the tie in this unsatisfactory way they are in a position to complain without being accused of sour grapes.”

At the time Kelly had said; “Had we been unsuccessful in Lisbon against Benfica, it would have been improper for us to complain. However, the fact that we won adds weight to our argument that games of this importance should be decided upon by the exercise of some football skill.”

Months later, at Celtic behest, UEFA changed the rule to introduce the penalty decider, and although throughout the years there has been debate about this (still unsatisfactory) way to decide ties and even competitions, few would disagree with the Kelly/Stein notion that a football skill should be involved in the outcome of a football match.

Ironically, the rule change that the club had forced came back to haunt them just two years later when the Hoops went out on penalties to Inter at Celtic Park.

THE MATCH STATS

European Cup

Second Round First Leg

November 12, 1969

Celtic 3

(Gemmell 2, Wallace 41, Hood 69)

Benfica 0

CELTIC: Fallon; Craig, Gemmell; Murdoch, McNeill, Clark; Johnstone, Hood, Wallace, Auld, Hughes.

BENFICA: Henrique; Malta, C Humberto; Zeca, F Humberto, Graca; Coluna, Simoes, Torres, Eusebio (Augusto), Diamentino (Jorge).

Att: 80,000

Second Round Second Leg

November 26, 1969

Benfica 3

(Eusebio 36, Graca 40, Diamento 90)

Celtic 0

BENFICA: Henrique; Da Silva, Messias; Coluna, Adolfo, Toni; Graca, Aguas (Diamento), Jorge, Eusebio (Martins), Simoes.

CELTIC: Fallon; Craig, Gemmell; Murdoch, McNeill, Brogan; Johnstone, Callaghan (Hood), Wallace, Auld (Connelly), Hughes.

Att: 37,000

Agg: Celtic 3 Benfica 3 after extra time (Celtic went through on toss of a coin).

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Heads we win – Hoops go through against Benfica but fight for rule change