UEFA warn SPFL against crowning Celtic as champions

(Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images) /
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UEFA has sent a warning to the Scottish Football Premiership League that if they crown Celtic or any other club champion without playing out the season, there could be consequences.

As everyone football and sports fan knows at this point that sports leagues across the world have been suspended due to the novel coronavirus. This has left a lot of leagues, and clubs, including Celtic in limbo not just as far as scheduling, but financially as well.

Most leagues, especially smaller ones such as the Scottish Premiership League wants to find a quick conclusion to the season. Clubs are depending on the end of season cash payout in order to help make ends meet.

However, UEFA has once again come down harshly on leagues and subsequently clubs who may finish their seasons earlier. UEFA’s main man Aleksander Ceferin has told the SPFL that they will jeopardize Celtic, or any other champion’s spot in Europe if they end the season early.

Here is what Ceferin said to ZDF, and German media outlet and transcribed by The Sun:

"“You cannot ask for help and then decide for yourself whether it is convenient.“That’s why I say: Belgium and the other leagues that are thinking of cancelling the season risk participating in European competitions next year.“UEFA requires that the competitions, if justified, be played. Without supporters if necessary.“Football is absolutely not the same without fans.“But it’s better to have football back on TV without supporters than no football at all.“This constructive meeting allowed Belgian football leaders to explain in detail the health and economic reasons for the recommendation issued yesterday by the Board of Directors and to challenge any approach that would consist in forcing a league to continue competing in the current state of the health crisis on pain of not being able to participate in European competitions next season.”"

What is hardly fair about this rationale is that one governing body (UEFA) is giving guidance to another governing body (SPFL) and threatening to take away European sports for clubs (Celtic) when the clubs have little say over what happens.

So, once again, Celtic could feel the long-term consequences of UEFA and the SPFL’s actions without having any actual say in the matter. At the end of the day, the season needs to come to a conclusion in order to take health and finances into consideration. This will allow the transfer window to kick off as normal, and hopefully the 2020/21 season can begin on time.

Threats and ultimatums from UEFA are ridiculous considering the overwhelming lead Celtic hold at the top of the table, as well as the economic hardships each club is facing. It is time for real action with the clubs’, players’ and fans’ health and economic situation taken into consideration, not just UEFA’s.

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