The big questions UEFA must answer
CELTIC, as Scotland’s Champions League representative, are already preparing for a first qualifying round tie.
The journey in search of a seat at Europe’s top table could begin as late as September, amid suggestions the group stage may commence in October.
With the world still gripped by Covid-19 UEFA will attempt to plough on regardless but it’s undeniable attempting to stage the tournament next season is fraught with danger.
However, let’s start with the potential positives.
Pushing qualifiers back is likely to mean Celtic can dispense with the high-wire act that balances these critical fixtures with pre-season training.
Preparations to resume full training are underway, and while a smooth road to a Premiership return on August 1 behind closed doors is far from guaranteed, things are moving in the right direction.
In an ideal world Celtic would start qualifying with a full pre-season and a handful of league fixtures already in the tank, not to mention any new signings will have been afforded time to bed in.
UEFA may, alternatively, attempt to run qualifiers before this season’s tournament is finished but that would likely be met with backlash from clubs still to conclude their domestic campaigns.
Whether the qualifying process will remain in its current form remains to be seen, but Celtic will be working under the assumption that four two-legged ties await.
But there’s a chance they could find themselves seeded for all four rounds, should the relevant pieces fall into place. There is also talk of playing qualifiers as one-legged ties.
Only the top four ranked clubs in Celtic’s qualifying route are guaranteed a seeding at every stage and Neil Lennon’s side are not among them, yet.
But unless Copenhagen overturn a nine-point deficit to win the Danish title they will miss out.
Secondly, the winners of this season’s tournament will secure automatic entry for next time. But if that team also claims a group stage place based on their domestic league placing – which looks likely considering the sides in the last 16 – that frees up another spot in the draw.
That place would likely be given to Ajax, removing them from qualifying and ensuring Celtic become one of the top four. Seeding, obviously, ensures they’d avoid some of the more daunting early ties.
In a purely footballing sense, things don’t look too bad. But Europe’s clubs are now at the mercy of government restrictions, including rules over travel.
Unless exceptions are made, Celtic’s travelling staff would be forced to quarantine for a fortnight upon returning home – a scenario eminently unworkable if they have domestic fixtures to fulfil.
Similar measures could also be opposed when arriving in other nations if the UK continues to be viewed as high-risk.
The Scottish Government have, so far, appeared reluctant to make extra concessions for elite sport but the mandatory quarantine is not a devolved matter and its implementation is decided by Westminster.
The UK Government would be required to relax the measure to allow clubs such as Manchester City to conclude this season’s tournament, and Celtic will watch on closely.
More questions than answers remain but all should become clearer when UEFA’s executive committee meet next Wednesday.