Rangers deny claims of Celtic money advantage from Sydney Super Cup
Rangers have come out to vehemently deny rumours that their Old Firm rivals Celtic are set to receive more money from the Sydney Super Cup.
The two arch-rivals will head down under to Australia in November, during the 2022 Qatar World Cup, to face Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC in a short tournament on Australian shores.
The eight-day event will see the first-ever Old Firm game played outside of Scotland but hasn’t gone down well with supporters despite the financial pros of the deal.
The football club moved to reassure fans that their Glaswegian rivals would not get a higher pay packet for their participation by virtue of having an Australian manager in Ange Postecoglu.
A spokesman for the Ibrox club said: “This is factually inaccurate. Both Old Firm clubs will receive the same fee and overall payment,” as quoted by the Daily Record.
Only a friendly
We need some perspective here because the outrage this has caused really isn’t worth it at all.
Yes, you couldn’t choose a location much further away for the two clubs to go head to head but it isn’t a competitive fixture.
No points will be handed out so it’s not like either side will lose ground in the title race next season by losing.
Sure it might not be “friendly” in the way it is played but no supporter is going to be all that bothered if they are beaten on the day.
You have to look at the massive financial benefit the club will be boosted by as a result of the contest rather than the disappointment of the game being played far away from home.
That wad of cash, however big it may be, will go an awfully long way towards funding new signings and securing the future of the club, which is all that really matters with this kind of event.
In other Rangers news, Giovanni van Bronckhorst has a number of injury doubts ahead of the Gers’ Europa League tie against Red Star Belgrade.