SPFL FACE LAW FIGHT WITH GERS
chief Dave Cormack last night admit t ing the coronavirus “hurricane” leaves them with no option.
The SPFL are keen to give clubs clarity amidst the COVID-19 crisis by calling a halt to the campaign, with Celtic being crowned Premiership champions and Hearts relegated.
But it’s understood that could open the floodgates to potential claims against the governing bodies.
MailSport understands Rangers, Hearts and others see a clear legal route to take and will lobby fellow SPFL clubs who would be adversely affected by the decision to join them.
Rangers, along with other clubs, believe UEFA’s decision is definitive and enhances the likelihood of claims against the league and its directors.
Jambos owner Ann Budge has also already stated the Tynecastle club would consider legal action if they were unfairly sent down to the Championship.
There’s also growing concern that some factions are intent on going it alone.
They’re adamant if Ceferin’s instructions are ignored, the SFA and SPFL would be ignoring their own rules and regulations.
A league source said: “The rami f ications for stopping Euro qualification could be huge for several clubs in Scotland.
“Anyone who advocates anything to the contrary is setting a dangerous precedent an d someone will have to take responsibility.
“It’s not just about the title or relegation – it’s about due diligence and doing the right thing.”
UEFA believe all leagues can still be f inished by August and Ceferin was reacting to the Belgian FA’s decision to end their campaign and crown Club Brugge champions.
But last night it emerged Belgian chiefs had held further talks with Ceferin to “reach a solut ion together” and their plan to halt the league wi l l be presented to UEFA’s Executive Committee.
The SPFL will hold a meeting tomorrow to discuss their next move and it’s understood they want to call the league now in order to distribute prize money to clubs.
Aberdeen supremo Cormack believes they will have to do just that if there is no prospect of football returning until September.
And he also warned even if football does resume after the summer, there could be closed-door games for the rest of the year.
Cormack said: “The best description I’ve heard of this pandemic is from the Governor of New York (Andrew Cuomo).
“He described it as a 300mile wide category f ive hurricane that’s going at three miles an hour and hasn’t quite hit land yet.
“So we have a lot to go through with society in the next few weeks.
“If it’s impossible to get games played in late July or early August, I don’t think we will have any choice but to call the league.
“Over the last 48 hours we have had thr e e conf licting stories come out from UEFA executives.
“This is 100 per cent down to UEFA and the big five leagues being concerned about compensation.
“I would hope that some decision is reached one way or the other, whether UEFA will support us or not.”
Cormack and investors have pumped £2m into the Dons to fend off a crisis.
He has budgeted to get back in July or August but has warned it could be much longer before fans are let back into stadiums.
He said: “We need to start working on what happens if no games can be played in front of crowds.
“In Asia they are relaxing some of the isolation laws and the virus has come back. Let’s say we relax isolation in June or July, can you go the next day and play in front of 10,000 to 70,000?
“We need to look after the players and their health.”