THE atmosphere of a Scottish fitba’ Saturday crackles with an injury doubt to Leigh Griffiths, the glowering of a possible impending storm of the Barton-Brown variety, and the gathering clouds that will settle over the losers.
However, the backstory of the Celtic v Rangers collision this afternoon has little to do with a domestic superiority. This concerns the atmosphere in European football that is feverish, even revolutionary.
The result in Glasgow today, of course, will dominate the headlines and affect the psychological well-being of a significant part of the populace, severely impacting on many in the numpty constituency. It will have little resonance elsewhere after the gaudy pictures are consumed in highlights or live coverage.
The story that has severe consequences for every association, every league is playing out in meetings throughout Europe and phone calls between people who are not happy with the status quo in the sport and are determined to do something about it. The motivation, of course, is purely financial. Football has become the staple of subscription channels, a drama that is regularly intoxicating and thus consistently attractive to both viewers and broadcasters.
The battlefield for the moment is the Champions League. The impact of deliberations elsewhere will have a far more significant impact on the Scottish game than anything that happens today.
If modern football is the most popular of soap operas, it is perhaps appropriate if one provides a catch-up service to those who have missed or are unaware of the Champions League stooshie. Briefly, the big clubs (and that definition means those with the biggest turnovers, largely through TV rights) want a greater, guaranteed slice of the Champions League pie.
Their case was not supported by anything as daft as increased competition, level playing fields or the notion of sport having to have room to accommodate romance. No, it was commendably blunt in message. It was a case of we want more. And when do we want it? Now.
A compromise of sorts, more an act of desperate appeasement, was formed and the four big leagues were allowed to have a combined 16 confirmed representatives in a 32-team tournament. The smaller leagues were thrown a bone in that the route to the group stages was left relatively open for their champions.
There was muttering, there was a quiet outrage but that plan seemed to be set in place for the Champions League competition starting in 2018. But the sans culottes – the leagues outside the big four of Spain, German, Italy and England – have hit back. The European Professional Football League has criticised what it sees as UEFA’S weak compliance in the face of the swagger of the big clubs.
It is hugely difficult to see what they can do about it, however. Yes, the EPFL may force UEFA into a volte-face, but that is unlikely and if it succeeded it would push the big clubs into the arms of Chinese investors who want to set up a version of the Champions League. This would do away with the inconvenience of those pesky Bate Borisovs, KAA Gents, Rosenborgs who regularly wander into the rich man’s playground of the Champions League group stages.
It would also, of course have an impact on the Scottish champions. Recent history has shown there is a considerable degree of difficulty in Scotland’s representatives advancing to the group stages of the Champions League. The revamped competition makes this no easier but any competition, organised and paid for by the Chinese, would make it impossible.
Chinese individuals and corporations have invested £2bn in European clubs in the past 18 months. They have vast funds to create a competition and the will to do so. UEFA, frankly, would be unable to intervene as the renegade tournament would be run in a manner akin to that cricket revolution instigated by Kerry Packer.
The tumult of a Glasgow derby thus has disturbing undertones for those who want to see the domestic game flourish in Europe. Once Celtic v Rangers would be a fixture between the two sides who would compete in the final of that year’s two major European competitions.
Now every club outside the big four leagues is scrambling, elbows out, to gain a place at this feast of TV largesse, whether Chinese or UEFA-based.
Celtic are the best-placed club in terms of influence from the smaller leagues. Peter Lawwell, the club’s chief executive and a board member of the European Club Association, has been lobbying strongly for years and recognises the import of developments. The very business model of a host of clubs is under threat.
Forgivably, perhaps, the focus today is on the football. It is the business of football that is the big story, however. And that is a fight that the Scottish domestic game cannot afford to lose.
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