Rangers in fixture switch talks
THE SPFL was last night locked in discussions aimed at bringing forward Rangers’ first post-split Premiership fixture at Motherwell.
The development came after Ibrox boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst pleaded with the Scottish football authorities to shift domestic matches to help Rangers in their bid for European glory.
Rangers are due to play at Fir Park at noon next
Sunday, four days before they kick-off in Germany against RB Leipzig in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final.
Rangers have formally approached the league to try to ease the fixture pressure around their European commitments.
An SPFL spokesman said: ‘The SPFL received a request from Rangers to move forward their game with Motherwell on Sunday to assist with their preparations for the Leipzig game.
‘The SPFL is in discussions with Motherwell, Sky Sports and Police Scotland regarding the request.’
More difficult and contentious would be any effort to switch the final Old Firm derby of the season, which takes place on Sunday May 1, in between the two Leipzig games.
It’s understood that, as things stand, Rangers have made no specific request surrounding their scheduled visit to Parkhead and there are no obvious gaps in the existing calendar to accommodate such a move.
Nevertheless, Van Bronckhorst stressed that fixture-list leniency is
applied on the continent in several leagues to assist their club sides.
Van Bronckhorst believes the SPFL will be doing right by Rangers and Scotland’s improving co-efficient by investigating some changes to a packed late-season list.
Leipzig are in Bundesliga action next Saturday against Union Berlin, so have more time to prepare for the semi-final.
The Glasgow derby could also yet form part of the Ibrox club’s pitch, given their Premiership title defence could be on the line at Parkhead.
Rangers were angered in 2008 when they were forced to play four games in eight days as their run to the UEFA Cup final against Zenit contributed to fixture chaos.
Van Bronckhorst said: ‘The club are having talks now. Obviously, when you add more games to the last stage of the season, you see in other countries a lot of games are moved to different dates or even kick-off times changed.
‘I think we just want to do the best for Scotland. That’s why we are still involved in Europe, getting a lot of points for everyone in this country.
‘Hopefully, the SPFL will also help us to perform as well as possible in Europe.
‘But, also, make sure we have time enough to rest before playing the games in Scotland. Of course, we can have the request. In the end, they have to agree and make sure fixtures are moved.
‘In other countries, they move dates. So the only thing that can happen is they agree and that’s the point we are waiting for.’
Rangers captain
James Tavernier added: ‘Getting to a European semi-final is a massive achievement and you would like to think we would get a bit of help by moving fixtures.’