SCOTS’ NERVOUS WAIT FOR UEFA PLAN

SCOTTISH football will learn at the start of next month whether it has a future in the Champions League after UEFA revealed when they will announce their proposed shake-up of the tournament. Europe’s top clubs, backed by Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, chairman of the European Club Association, want big changes to the format of the tournament. They want the first four of the four strongest European leagues to qualify directly for the group stage of the Champions League, without the need of a play-off. It would mean 16 of the 32 spots in the group stage would automatically come from England, Spain, Germany and Italy. Rummenigge has alternatively even proposed a European Super League if the plans don’t go through, which would shut off Scottish football for good. Now UEFA have announced they will reveal all on September 5. They stated: ‘UEFA has organised several meetings held in recent months with all decision-makers to discuss the future of the UEFA club competitions and seek the views of all stakeholders. ‘The results of these consultations, together with proposals for a way forward to the clubs before the General Assembly of the European Club Association are received in Geneva on 5 and 6 September.’ If approved it would likely lead to the absence of the atmospheric cauldron of Celtic Park under the floodlights. An experience Scott Sinclair revelled in when he played the full 90 minutes as Celtic defeated Hapoel Be’er Sheva in midweek. ‘Everybody keeps telling me about the atmosphere created by the Celtic fans, but now I’m going through it for myself and realising how good it is,’ said the 27-year-old. ‘I haven’t experienced anything like that before. Not at all. When we walked out, they made so much noise and then they were singing for the whole game. ‘It spurred us on and when we did concede the two goals, they kept right behind us, clapping and cheering. It did help. ‘Hopefully, we can get through and have more of these nights.’