A report in The Sun claims that UEFA has accepted the way that the SPFL will settle the 2019/20 season.
Two weeks ago there was concern when the Belgian Pro League announced that they intended awarding the title of champions to Club Brugge with 11 matches still to be played.
That prompted a flurry of statements, letter and comment from UEFA whose big priority is to get domestic seasons completed whatever is required.
Scottish clubs won’t be allowed to train until June 10 at earliest which would result in a mid-July resumption with the 2020/21 season scheduled to start on August 1.
UEFA competitions are looking less likely to be played in their current form next season with pressure mounting to give each league authority to resolve the 2019/20 season the best way that they see fit.
The Sun reports:
In Serbia, runaway leaders Red Star Belgrade face a similar situation to Celtic – they are 11 points clear at the top and on the verge of clinching another title.
UEFA initially made it clear they had the power to withhold European places for leagues who declared their season over early, with prompted Belgium to make a u-turn after they were the first European nation to announce their campaign had ended.
However, European football’s governing body have now accepted football is extremely unlikely to be played again this term in the leagues outside the Big Five, after taking advice from Belgian virologist, Marc Van Ranst.
And Red Star Belgrade chief executive, Zvezdan Terzic, has revealed UEFA will have no issue with countries calling title winners immediately.
Terzic said: “There are three scenarios available to leagues like ours. The first is to hope we can eventually continue the season, the second is to declare it null and void and the third is to do what Scotland and Belgium have done and end the season now.
“We have been in constant contact with UEFA. Scotland and Belgium have argued their case with sound reason and I know UEFA will now accept it.
“Bigger leagues will insist on finishing their championships, but that is because their income is hugely reliant on TV money.
“Here, we need to align with the measures taken by Serbian FA and Serbian Government. The lack of available dates is not our fault. I wish we could be called the champions in the normal way, but it is not up to us.”
Yesterday the SPFL announced that Dundee United, Raith Rovers and Cove Rangers had won their divisions but no decision has been taken on the Premiership.
UEFA meet again on April 23 with no sign of any league, other than Belarus, being able to put together a timetable for football to resume.
