SCOTTISH Professional Football League chief executive Neil Doncaster has vowed to continue fighting changes to the Champions League which could make it harder for Scottish clubs to qualify.
European football’s governing body Uefa has announced that the top four leagues in its co-efficient rankings – currently Spain, Germany, England and Italy – will all be guaranteed four spots in the group stages from season 2018-19.
The move has been driven in a bid to fight off the threat of a breakaway European Super League. Uefa has insisted though that the Champions route – which was the path Celtic this week took to reach the money-spinning group stages for this season’s tournament – will be protected.
However, full details of the new-look competition have yet to be unveiled and there is no guarantee the five places reserved for continent’s smaller leagues’ winners will be preserved.
Doncaster says he is now eagerly awaiting the full breakdown of the new format but insists he will not stand for further alterations which could threaten Scotland’s place at Europe’s top table.
The Hampden chief said: “There is still a lot to be worked through before we can comment fully on these changes, with Uefa stating full details of the access list for both competitions will be finalised by the end of the year.
“What we can say now is that, after lobbying hard for the retention of the Champions route for Champions League qualification, the SPFL is therefore pleased the Champions route has been protected as part of these changes. This alone is good news for each season’s Ladbrokes Premiership champion club and indeed for Scottish football as a whole.
“However, we will monitor this issue and these changes very closely and pledge to continue to fight to protect the best interests of Scottish football in the wider European and global context.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here