CELTIC’S EUROPE BOUNTY ON RISE

CELTIC are in line for a record amount of Champions League income if they reach next season’s group stage after UEFA announced an astonishing 50-per-cent increase in the prize fund. The Parkhead club have earned around £30million from joining the elite in each of the last two campaigns, with that figure made up of prize money, broadcast revenues and gate receipts. Brendan Rodgers’ men have to negotiate an extra qualifying round this summer but success would see them bank an improved pay-out, further increasing their financial dominance of the Scottish game. Total income from the Champions League, Europa League and Super Cup is estimated to hit £2.85billion in 2018/19, up

nearly £800m on this season’s figure. This translates to a prize pot of £2.23bn, with UEFA’s costs and solidarity payments accounting for the rest. The lion’s share, as ever, will go to clubs in the Champions League, with qualification for the group stage worth a guaranteed £13.35m, plus £2.36m for a win and nearly £800,000 for a draw. There are further bonuses for progressing through each round of the knockout stages, with the eventual winner collecting a further £44.65m. There are further payments that depend on each club’s record in UEFA competitions over the last ten years — Celtic are ranked 45th — and each club’s share of its broadcasters’ ‘market pool’. The money available to Europa League sides is not quite as impressive, but Rangers, Aberdeen and Hibernian could all bank more than was previously available. The total prize fund there has grown by 25 per cent to £446.5m.