Doncaster hails Scottish clubs’ rise on European stage
NEIL DONCASTER admits it would be “huge” to see two Scottish clubs in the Champions League this term as he hailed Rangers’ run to Seville last season.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side came agonisingly close to a remarkable Europa League triumph as they were beaten on penalties by Eintracht Frankfurt.
Rangers have significantly boosted the profile of our game in recent seasons after producing a series of stunning runs on the continent and overcoming the likes of Porto, Braga, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig.
The Ibrox club’s efforts have helped to earn Scottish clubs automatic progression to the group stage of the Champions League and Celtic will reap the rewards of that achievement after clinching the cinch Premiership title last season.
Van Bronckhorst could yet lead his side into Europe’s premier club competition in the coming weeks and SPFL chief Doncaster knows the entire game here will benefit as Hearts, Dundee United and Motherwell also prepare for their respective continental campaigns.
“I think it is very much on the way up,” Doncaster told
Sky Sports. “It was a great run in Europe that Rangers had to get to the Europa League final last season before falling at the final hurdle. But we have seen really good performances in Europe from a number of Scottish sides over the years which has resulted in Scotland now being ninth in the country coefficient in terms of UEFA competition.
“That in turn makes it easier for our clubs to qualify for UEFA competition. We have got five clubs in Europe next season.
“Celtic go in as cinch Premiership champions into the group stages of the Champions League and Rangers can potentially also join them through the qualifiers. Then we have got Hearts, Dundee United and Motherwell also playing in Europe again so there are great news stories for the whole of the game.
“That would be huge [to have two clubs playing in the Champions League group stages]. Not merely from the point of view of coefficient and making it easier for our clubs to qualify in the future, there
is a huge financial boost to the whole game the better our clubs do in Europe.
“Unfortunately money is so important to the game and to be able to attract some of the world’s best talent to come to Scotland, money talks. Certainly the money that European competition brings to the game in Scotland is vital.”
Doncaster was speaking on the day that the SPFL confirmed the fixture schedule for the new campaign and supporters are now counting down to the big kick-off next month as season 2022/23 gets off and running.
The Premiership will break for the World Cup in Qatar in November and there will be a significant change when the action resumes as the League and Scottish FA attempt to implement VAR in time for the second half of the season.
“We were keen not to be early adopters of this technology,” Doncaster said. “We have seen some of the teething problems that its
introduction has caused in other leagues.
“So we were keen to ensure that we took advantage of the learnings from those leagues before we implanted it in Scotland.
“We are not quite ready to launch at the start of the season but in partnership with the Scottish FA, we are very hopeful that VAR will launch part way through the season. And hopefully it will achieve less controversy than we have seen in recent seasons.
“It is a difficult job that the refs have. So any support that they can have I’m sure will be appreciated.
“I think it is a product of where we are. We only want to introduce VAR when we are ready to do so and I think that is important.
“A number of other leagues across Europe have also implemented VAR part way through a season so
I don’t think we are doing anything particularly radical by bringing it in part way through next season.”