Celtic could have to wait until the end of August to play their Champions League qualifiers.
In recent seasons the hoops have started in the second week in July with eight successive midweek dates to be negotiated to reach the group stage.
The suspension of football in March has created a huge headache for UEFA who have to finish two competitions from the 2019/20 season as well as plan ahead for next season.
Euro 2020 was quickly put back a year but with only half of the leagues declared and travel restrictions across the continent planning next season’s calendar can’t be done with any degree of certainty.
All sport in France and Holland has been suspended until September 1 with KNVB director Eric Gudde working with UEFA to nail down a calendar to resume their competitions.
Ahead of the UEFA summit on June 17 and 18 the Daily Record reports:
Dutch football is trying to persuade their government to allow the sport to return ahead of their planned date of September and KNVB director Gudde pointed out they would be at a huge disadvantage because UEFA plan to play European qualifiers in August.
He said: “We really can’t wait until September 1, because I understand UEFA thinks matches will be played in the preliminary rounds of the Champions League and Europa League at the end of August.
“So we need to start up before then. We have to plan as soon as possible for professional and financial reasons. We are not just sitting back waiting for a vaccine, we are exploring all possibilities.”
Celtic restart training on Thursday with Neil Lennon’s squad reporting to Lennoxtown in six groups of five.
Switching the qualifiers back until after the SPFL season has started should boost Celtic’s qualification prospects with suggestions that the four qualifying rounds could be reduced, possibly to one off ties rather than two legged.