Celtic defender Olivier Tebily is expected to return to Glasgow at the beginning of next week after being held in a military camp.

He was detained for a short time along with fellow members of the Ivory Coast national side.

They were imprisoned by the country's government after the team was eliminated from the African Nations Cup in the first round.

Unconfirmed reports said that Tebily was released on Thursday afternoon after FIFA president Sepp Blatter intervened.

He pleaded with the Ivory Coast's football authorities to broker a deal with their government and release the players.

First-round elimination

The team was held at Zambarko camp, near Yamoussourko, after the Ivory Coast's exit from the tournament sparked a public outcry.

The army took the squad to camp before stripping them of their passports and their mobile phones.

The official line is that it was a necessary exercise to ensure the players' safety.

FIFA are still waiting for confirmation that they have been freed, but it is understood they are on their way back to their families and clubs.

A Celtic spokesman said: "Naturally Celtic are concerned about Olivier Tebily and are therefore monitoring the situation closely.

"We are making regular inquiries, but information is limited.

"Celtic understand Olivier Tebily will be able to travel to France tomorrow and return to Glasgow on Sunday or Monday."

'Episode has caused harm'

Blatter believes the situation has harmed the Ivory Coast in particular and the African continent in general.

"Detaining a team because it failed to qualify for the next round of a football competition is a blatant violation of the autonomy of the football association as well as the fair play principle," he said.

"At a time when the entire football world is looking to Africa and following its major football competition, such actions harm the standing of football in the Ivory Coast and on the entire African continent."

FIFA say that the Ivory Coast's stance could seriously jeopardise the release of players for future national team competitions, including World Cup qualifiers.