UEFA CALL COULD BE QUERIED BY CLUBS
SCOTTISH clubs will have legal grounds to challenge any SPFL decision taken to end the season early without voiding current standings – but must prove the decision was unreasonable.
That’s according to top Mishcon de Reya sports lawyer Simon Leaf, who would be surprised if clubs hit hardest don’t try to challenge any decision that sees them relegated or miss out on promotion.
It’s going to be a nervous wait for Hearts and Partick Thistle who still have a chance of survival if the campaign isn’t cut short.
The Jambos board are set to thrash out a possible course of action at a meeting this week.
SPFL rules state the season begins on the date of the opening fixture and ends on the date of the final fixture with a caveat that stipulates “unless otherwise determined by the SPFL board”.
But Leaf believes tomorrow’s momentous UEFA meeting could set the tone for leagues to follow.
Leaf said: “In England, there isn’t that caveat. In some ways you could argue the league has a bit more leeway in Scotland than down south.
“Having said that I suspect there could be a similar provision in Scotland that we have down here, which basically says any club can challenge a decision of the league if it’s so unreasonable, no reasonable league would have come to that decision.
“The clubs would then have to prove the decision was unreasonable.
“In England, and to an extent in Scotland, it’s pretty clear who is going to win the top leagues. Everything else is up for grabs.
“But we have to wait to see what happens with UEFA. It’s being widely touted they’ll delay the European Championship for another year. It wouldn’t surprise me if they then delay some of the other European competitions.
“There’s no reason why the current season can’t be extended into what would ordinarily be the summer period or the start of next season.
“If UEFA themselves are acknowledging football isn’t going to be played and their own competitions are delayed, it’s harder for the leagues to justify a decision to end the season now rather than trying to complete it, or at least waiting to see what happens.”