Greek Tragedy

[ian1964 10,720]

by Alison McConnell

 

SCOTLAND is facing Champions League armageddon after it was revealed the SPL winners will have to qualify for the money-spinning elite group stages from 2010 - alongside Europe's minnow clubs.

 

This season's title winners WILL go straight into the Champions League. But the season after that both the league champions and the runners-up will face a gruelling qualifying campaign to book their passage into the group stages.

 

Greece have leap-frogged Scotland in the co-efficient table after Olympiakos thumped Hertha Berlin 4-0 last night, meaning Scotland have just one more season on a golden ticket into the group stages of the Champions League. And, with Panathinaikos awaiting their fate in the Champions League draw later today, Greece will consolidate that twelfth spot in the provisional UEFA co-efficient table.

 

Only the top 12 countries enjoy automatic entry into the group stages.

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However, while the regulations for the revamped Champions League qualification format have not yet formally been published by UEFA, it is more than likely that the champions of the 13th placed nation - at this time that is Scotland -could still gain automatic entry if the Champions League holders also qualify through their domestic league position.

 

That means that if, for example, Manchester United were to win the Premiership and the Champions League, then the SPL winners would go straight into the Champions League through the back door.

 

So, in that event, it is vital that Scotland hang on to 13th spot. That slot is currently under threat by Belgium who have two clubs left in the Uefa Cup.

 

A combined six more victories from Standard Liege and Club Brugge would take Belgium above Scotland. Denmark too are an outside threat with Aalborg still in the Uefa Cup as well.

 

Celtic and Rangers know the serious hazards that lie in wait in the qualifying stages.

 

Celtic were put to the sword by Artmedia Bratislava in 2005 and had to go without European football for a full season, while this year Kaunas heaped the same fate on Rangers.

 

And the bad news is that it is only going to get harder.

 

Uefa President Michel Platini wants the qualifying games for the Champions League to be revamped and that mean is an even tougher route to the Champions League group stage.

 

Given the financial incentives available, it would be a nightmare for both Celtic and Rangers if they were to miss out on Champions League football.

 

Despite missing out on both the last 16 of the Champions League and the latter stages of UEFA Cup this season, Celtic still stand to make around �£15m from their participation.

 

And in the current climate when the gap between the top teams and the rest is particularly galling, it is vital that these kind of finances are brought in in order to help strengthen teams.

 

Missing out on that money on a regular basis would be a disaster for the Old Firm who are struggling as it is to bridge the chasm.

 

 

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