CHEATED BY HANS KRANKL BETRAYED BY CELTIC BOARD LET DOWN BY UEFA; Grant opens his heart on the grudge he has held for 25 years.

Byline: HUGH KEEVINS

PETER GRANT last night revealed he has harboured a 25-year grudge not just against Rapid Vienna but against Celtic's old board, too.

Grant was part of the Parkhead side that were cheated out of victory by Hans Krankl and his fellow Austrians back in 1984.

He is still disgusted when he remembers UEFA's decision to order the second leg of their Cup-Winners' Cup clash to be replayed - and gutted when he recalls how the Celtic directors of 25 years ago failed to challenge that judgment.

Former midfielder Grant insists he and his Hoops team-mates endured a night of cheating by Rapid, topped off by the play-acting of defender Rudolf Weinhofer who threw himself to the ground, claiming he had been struck by a bottle thrown from the crowd even though it landed yards way.

Celtic won on aggregate but UEFA ordered a replay, which took place at Old Trafford, and Grant's dream of European glory was shattered when they lost 1-0. Ironically, the goal was scored by current Rapid boss Peter Pacult.

Grant, now back at Celtic and helping to coach the side that will face Rapid in the Europa League on Thursday, said: "I was an Everton fan for the day Rapid met Howard Kendall's side in the Cup-Winners' Cup Final in 1985.

"I just couldn't bear the thought of a team we had already beaten going on to win the tournament.

"The whole experience of what had happened to us had left me thinking that it would have been bad for football's image if they had beaten Everton.

"I have no hesitation in admitting the Austrians were a better side than us when we lost to them at Old Trafford.

Darkest

"We were lucky to be in with a chance of salvaging the tie against them because they outplayed us in their own country as well."

Grant insists the second leg at Celtic Park was one of his darkest nights in football. He added: "We weren't too happy about their antics on the pitch.

"Foreign teams have always had that little bit extra, doing anything to win games. We always knew these were tricks that got played on big nights but we beat them fairly and squarely.

"That's why I've always felt the club should have been stronger when UEFA back-tracked on their original decision to find Rapid guilty of misconduct.

"The answer would have been to take the decision to a civil court and contest its validity but that wasn't Celtic's way.

"And the players in the dressing room weren't strong enough to say they were refusing to play a decider on neutral territory.

"We should have been stronger because Celtic are a big name in Europe and they shouldn't have accepted having to play the game again.

"To go out was a crushing blow to me personally because I knew there wouldn't be too many chances as good as that one to make it to a European final.

"The snowball effect the club suffered as a consequence of the Rapid business lasted beyond that season as well.

"We were ordered to play our next European tie behind closed doors at home because of the crowd trouble at Old Trafford.

"Celtic went out to Atletico Madrid after getting a creditable draw in Spain and another season was lost to me in Europe.

"And all because of a missile that was thrown on the pitch at Celtic Park but landed about 25 miles from the player who went down in a heap claiming that it had struck him.

"I always remember Paul McStay going over to Krankl, who was their top player at the time, and saying to him in a voice that resembled Inspector Clouseau, 'You're a cheat'.

"It was the only mildly humorous moment that came out of that night."

Now Grant must make sure the past does not overshadow the present because Celtic started their Europa League group badly by collapsing in the second half away to Hapoel Tel Aviv and losing.

He said: "We let ourselves down there because we fell to pieces after going in front.

"Now we need all of our big players to do well against Rapid at Celtic Park.The Austrians could have had five goals against Martin O'Neill's team at Villa Park and they turned Hamburg over in style as well.

"Hopefully the night will be about football and nothing else when we come together with them next week.

"Pacult, who scored the goal that settled the match in Manchester, is now the Rapid manager and I'm back at Celtic. That makes it impossible to escape the past but the immediate future is the important thing."

Revenge

And Grant does not believe Celtic's current players will have revenge on their minds. He said: "Some of these boys weren't even born in 1984 so it makes no difference to them.

"It will be the same with the supporters.

Some of them weren't born - their fathers will be telling them.

"We're really looking forward to it because it's a big, big challenge and these are the things you come to Celtic for, to be involved in big European nights."

Celtic's need to have all of their big players doing well on the night suffered a hammer blow with the potential loss of Aiden McGeady. His injury at Falkirk on Tuesday threatens to cast a shadow over the Euro fixture and it has prompted fans to ask why he was put on in the first place.

Manager Tony Mowbray admitted he beat himself up over the decision to use McGeady as a belated sub when Celtic were already three goals up and cruising.

Grant said: "We also have a wonderful talent called Pat McCourt to call on.He could be a massive player for the club and I'd back him to be good against any opposition.

"Will he ever have blistering pace? That's unlikely. But let's not concentrate on the negatives and focus on what he can do to great effect on the park.

"He brings what the Celtic fans want to see."

If the mercurial Irishman can bring his box of tricks to the game against Rapid he might also be able cure Grant of a 25-year sense of injustice at the Pat McCourt of human rights.

CAPTION(S):

EURO NIGHT FROM HELL: Celtic dumped Rapid 3-0 in the second leg as, clockwise, Murdo MacLeod rammed home the second goal. But cheating defender Rudolf Weinhofer threw himself to the ground claiming he had been hit by a bottle and Hans Krankl tried to lead his team off the park. UEFA then ordered the tinderbox replay at Old Trafford in which Rapid goal scorer and now team boss Peter Pacult was attacked by a supporter