ISRAEL TAKE A BREAK BUT SCOTS WON’T FOLLOW SUIT

ISRAEL have cancelled domestic league fixtures ahead of their Euro 2020 semi-final play-off with Scotland in March — but the SPFL have no plans to follow suit. the SFA have yet to ask their SPFL counterparts to rearrange Premiership games on March 21/22. Plans to assist the national team have been hamstrung by an absence of free midweek dates due to the winter break and the reluctance of clubs to scrap Scottish Cup replays. Steve Clarke’s side play the Israelis at Hampden on thursday, March 26, with the winners due to play either Norway or Serbia in Oslo or Belgrade five days later. Israeli League chairman, Erez Halfon, confirmed: ‘We have approved a request by manager Andreas Herzog to cancel the fixtures before the Scotland game. this will allow the players to go to a training camp four days before the game and will also rest them before the match. ‘this was done to help the Israeli team. We are all united behind them and wish them success in the play-offs.’ Should Celtic and Rangers advance to the last 16 of the Europa League, they face playing Premiership games on the Sunday four days before the play-off semi-final — with the Israel decision likely to ramp up criticism of the governing bodies. the SFA have already teamed up with the SPFL to ask clubs to consider scrapping midweek Scottish Cup replays to relieve fixture congestion — but failed to reach agreement in time for this season. SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell recently told Sportsmail: ‘We have to leave dates free for Scottish Cup replays. those are midweek dates you could use as there is no UEFA calendar on those dates. ‘It makes sense that we look at it. It may be there will be no replays after a certain point in the competition but I don’t think there will be no replays altogether. ‘the SPFL have divisional meetings three or four times a season and I said to Neil doncaster: “Can we get a slot to speak about SFA-related matters?” ‘We have been using that to get an understanding on Scottish Cup review issues. With replays, we have asked if we should go straight to penalties or still have extra-time? If we are going to stop replays, at what stage should we do it? ‘the Highland League would rather play 90 minutes and go straight to penalties. ‘the Lowland League think: “Well, if we get through a couple of rounds the chance of a replay is quite good”. ‘Some of the Premiership clubs say: “We know there is a problem” but if Motherwell or someone get Rangers then get them back to Ibrox, they don’t want to lose that chance. ‘People look at these things through their own glasses, I understand that. ‘But it makes it difficult for us to come through a review with anything that will have everyone saying: “Good idea”.’