FIFA are waiting in the sidelines, ready to step in to resolve the dispute featuring Marko Viduka, Celtic, and Croatia Zagreb.

However, the world's top footballing body has insisted that, at the moment, there is no case pending involving any of the parties.

Viduka, who signed last month for Celtic from Zagreb in a #3m deal - claiming that half of that should go to himself - was only days at the club when he flew home to his native Australia, saying he was suffering from depression.

However, the saga took on farcical proportions on Tuesday when the internationalist striker appeared at London's Heathrow airport and attempted to join the Celtic squad en route to Spain for a winter break.

Celtic officials, who have not yet paid the transfer fee, did not want him to travel and he and his agent were ''persuaded'' not to board the flight. Now, with the situation in a stalemate position, some positive action will have to be made.

Jim Farry, the chief executive of the SFA, has advised Celtic to resolve the problem quickly, pointing out that, if they do not, then FIFA will. Last night, a spokesman for the governing body said from Zurich: ''At the moment, there is no case pending. We have received several calls on this matter, but we have not been asked to do anything about it.''

That could change quickly. It appears as if every other avenue has been explored and, if either Celtic or Croatia Zagreb ask FIFA to move in, they will do so and resolve the situation in quick time.

Meanwhile, a makeshift Celtic team, albeit worth #10m on the transfer market, had to work hard to avoid defeat against a fourth division Spanish part-time team, Balona, in their opening practice match of the trip.

On a dreadful pitch at La Linea, they were two goals down inside 15 minutes. Celtic then went 3-2 ahead but the home side, a touch more motivated than the visitors, made the final score 3-3.

So motivated were the Spaniards that defender Juan Antonio was sent off for raising an elbow to substitute Harald Brattbakk. The major bonus for Celtic was the work-out for long-term absentees Marc Rieper, who was booked for a foul, and Regi Blinker.

Celtic's scorers were two out of contract men, Mark Burchill with a double, and Simon Donnelly.