CELTIC are awaiting reassurances over the state of the pitch in Baku where they are due to play Qarabag in their Champions League qualifier on Wednesday after conflicting claims about its suitability for the match.

The Scottish champions will take a 1-0 lead to Azerbaijan, but the possibility of playing the match as scheduled has been called into doubt by local reports that large parts of the pitch are unplayable. The venue is Azerbaijan's national ground, the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium, over 30 per cent of which is completely unplayable, according to those reports.

But the Scot who says he is in charge of the surface has hit back at those reports, saying that, while the pitch is far from perfect, it complies with UEFA regulations. “Qarabag are panicking and have put out stories in the local press which suggest that I am sabotaging the pitch because I am Scottish,” said the man, who asked to be known only as a Scottish ground consultant. “It is a nonsense.

“I have been here five weeks and the job has been a real poisoned chalice. I was dropped right in the deep end.

"The pitch was bad because there was no time to work on it after the European Championship games and we have worked very hard to get it right. Aesthetically speaking, it does not look good. When I got here it was dangerous and that is no longer the case.

“It is firm, but I would say it is covered by 70 per cent grass. I would rate it as a First or Second Division pitch back home towards the end of the season.

“It certainly comes under the Uefa regulations. I get the feeling I will be blamed whoever goes out. If it wasn’t for me there wouldn’t be a pitch.”

A spokesperson for Celtic acknowledged concern about the uncertainty. “We are aware of the issue as regards the pitch in Baku. At the moment, we are seeking reassurances over the quality of the surface.”

Qarabag have already looked at moving the game to Baku's Bakcell Arena stadium, but cannot because fellow Azerbaijani club Qabala play a Europa League tie there the following night against Apollon Limassol and Uefa insist clubs must train in the same stadium 24 hours before the match. Added to Qarabag's dilemma is the fact they started to sell their 30,000 tickets for the game at the weekend and would face a logistical nightmare trying to move the tie.

UEFA have regulations in place for the cancellation of matches in European football both before the visiting teams depart or if it is called off when they are in the country. Their Article 11.01 states: "If the home club finds that a match cannot take place, for example because the field is not fit for play, the home club must notify the visiting club and the referee before their departure from home and the Uefa administration at the same time. In this case, the match must be played at another venue and/or on another date as decided by the Uefa administration after consultation with the home club for the venue and with both clubs (for the date)."

If the UEFA refereeing team wait until Celtic arrive in Azerbaijan and then call it off, the regulations state: "If any doubt arises as to the condition of the field of play after the visiting club's departure from home, the referee decides on the spot whether or not it is fit for play. If the referee decides that the match cannot commence, for example because the field is unfit for play, the match must be played either the next day, or on a reserve date or other date set by the UEFA administration."