Rangers could still face Champions League qualifying nightmare

[ian1964 10,826]

RANGERS could still be forced to take part in the Champions League qualifying rounds next season if, as expected, they clinch the Scottish Premier League title.

The financially troubled Ibrox side, and the Lloyds Banking Group, have been eagerly anticipating an estimated �£10 million cash injection from competing in the elite club competition to help reduce the club's �£31m debt.

 

However, it has emerged that their path to the group phase may not be automatic if CSKA Moscow or Lyon are the winners of this year's Champions League.

 

The Russians have already failed to qualify for next season's Champions League and Lyon are also in danger of missing out ââ?¬â?? unless either one claims the trophy in Madrid on 22 May.

 

UEFA changed the rules for qualification after Liverpool beat AC Milan to win it in 2005. They had finished fifth in the Premiership that year and should have had to settle for a UEFA Cup place. Now holders qualify automatically ââ?¬â?? and that could pose problems for Rangers.

 

"The top 12 countries in Europe have their champions qualify automatically but we're currently 13th," said an SPL spokesman. "As long as the eventual winners have already qualified through their own league then Rangers will be okay. However, the Russian season has recently finished and CSKA Moscow finished fifth, meaning they will miss out.

 

"Lyon could also fail to claim a place. There are only four points between the top six clubs in Ligue 1. Since only three French clubs enter the competition they may also fail. Should either of those clubs then go on to win the Champions League then Rangers would need to play two qualifying rounds in order to reach the group stage."

 

However, the consolation for Rangers if that happened is that they would be one of the seeded clubs in that draw.

 

"Rangers would then be in what is knows as the Champions' Qualifying Pathway," said the spokesman. "That would mean they would have two qualifying rounds to play but both would be against teams from countries ranked below us. They would face ties which would be, on the face of it, much easier than the task Celtic faced last year when they were drawn against Arsenal."

 

CSKA Moscow are at home against Internazionale in the quarter-final second leg on Tuesday after losing 1-0 in Italy. If they reach the semis they will face Arsenal or Barcelona. Lyon travel to Bordeaux the next evening, 3-1 ahead. Should they qualify, they will meet Manchester United or Bayern Munich.

 

Speaking in February, Rangers chairman Alastair Johnston said qualifying for the Champions League was "crucial".

 

From 2011, the SPL champions will only be able to reach the group phase by overcoming seeded clubs from England, Spain, France, Germany and Italy.

 

http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/sport/Rangers-could-still-face-Champions.6202712.jp

[Dr Preston Burke 0]

Pathetic scaremongering. Absolutely no chance of CSKA or Lyon winning the Champions League

[craig 5,199]

True Dr, but the article is still technically accurate. Never going to happen, but they can easily run with that story safe in the knowledge it is accurate, for now.....

[johnnyk 158]

It's tight at the top of the French league but Lyon could easily win it, why don't the say it like that?

 

They are top at present although Bordeaux and Auxerre have games in hand......

[Super_Ally 0]

Pathetic scaremongering. Absolutely no chance of CSKA or Lyon winning the Champions League

 

My thoughts too.

 

CSKA are unlikely to progress against Inter imo (though still possible) whilst Lyon went top of their league yesterday I believe and are also unlikely to win the CL in any case.

[Tannochsidebear 2,480]

Must have been a slow news day/week. This story has been true for months, so why now? Lyon first have to beat Bordeaux and will then have to beat the winners of Man U/Bayern, and CSKA must beat Inter and then Barca/Arsenal. They then have to win the CL final.

 

On top of that Lyon will fancy their chances of finishing top 2 in France, being only 2 points off top spot at the moment with a handful of games left.

 

If this was just a story outlining the possible outcomes for the CL line-up next season i'd be fine with it, but the slant on the story is skint Rangers may not get any CL money next season and go bust.

 

Wishful thinking from a rag that has plenty of previous in slanting Rangers stories in a negative fashion.

[Guest CardendenBear]

Cant see this happening tho

[metlika 0]

How many of us already knew about CSKA Moscow and Lyon? The paper is running a story a few weeks late just because we won, as has been said can't see Lyon or CSKA winning, more so the later and Lyon still have a chance of automatic qualification anyway.

 

So boring they do this

[Tannochsidebear 2,480]

And after this weekend's results Lyon are now top of the French League table, although they ares till far from certain to finish in the top 2 as there are 5 teams within 2 points of the top.

 

Must be the most competitive league in Europe this season.