SPFL TO CALL UEFA’S BLUFF
FROM BACK PAGE UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin repeating the threat on German TV, even going as far as saying matches could be played behind closed doors.
UEFA maintain league campaigns can still be finished in July and August.
Ceferin spoke out after the Belgian league became the first to recommend scrapping the season by awarding its title to Brugge, 15 points ahead of Gent.
It’s understood several smaller nations are ready to throw the problem straight back at UEFA by demanding interest-free loans to cover their costs until football emerges from the coronavirus pandemic.
However, that is not a stance the SPFL are willing to adopt as they forge on with plans to call the season as soon as their legal advice allows, handing Celtic the title and relegating Hearts.
One source said: “UEFA are in panic mode and they’re probably the only organisation in Europe that believes this coronavirus pandemic will be over in a month and they can start planning for the weeks beyond it.
“They’ve been spooked by the Belgians, they know the financial implications from broadcasters for the big five countries if their league seasons aren’t played to a conclusion.
“UEFA’s threat to prevent clubs from smaller nations competing in their tournaments next season is farcical. The big five apart, who else are they going to invite? Teams from Belarus?
The SPFL wants to call the domestic leagues as soon as possible and distribute the prize money on which many clubs will rely to see them through the summer.
However, they are also anxious to avoid extending the current domestic campaign towards the autumn as it would impact on their new five-year sponsorship agreement with Sky.
It’s understood BT Sport, who exit Scottish football at the end of the season, would be due a financial clawback if the season ends with eight games to play.
The SPFL source added: “There’s an implication of payback to broadcasters. We’d only be moving the problem from one season to the next if we play the current campaign beyond the summer.”
Ceferin again rounded on the Belgians and insisted the only solution is for leagues to pick up where they left off once the crisis is over, even if it’s in front of empty stands.
The Belgians were unrepentant after the first threat, with RBFA chief Stijn van Bever saying: “We are almost sure there is no regulatory basis for this.
“This decision by leagues and federations is sovereign. If the decision of the general assembly (on April 15) is ratified, we will not make any mistakes under the law.
“A constructive meeting allowed Belgian football leaders to explain health and economic reasons for the recommendation issued by the board of directors. And to challenge any approach that would consist of forcing a league to continue competition in the current state of the health crisis under threat of not being able to participate in European competitions next season.”
Ceferin hit back and said: “The Belgians and the federations that could consider doing the same are risking participation in next year’s competition.
“Football is not the same thing without fans but it is better to play football without fans and get it back on television, rather than nothing. It will probably happen in July or August.”
PLANS are in place for Liga NOS to start again with clubs scheduled to have a mini pre-season in May ahead of a return to competitive action at the end of next month.
Porto are a point ahead of Benfica with 10 games left and games would be played every weekend with two full midweek cards before a July 18/19 league climax. The top two meet in the Portuguese Cup final the next weekend.
LA LIGA chiefs are looking at playing games behind closed doors, although no date has been set, in a bid to return with the cost of cancelling estimated at around £650m in TV rights.
President Javier Tebas warned of “serious problems” if the domestic season is not completed, saying: “If the competitions are suspended everything would be revised and the incomes would be much lower.”