Jim White and Simon Jordan outraged as Rangers and Celtic face ‘whopping disappointment’
Rangers or Celtic could win the Scottish Premiership and still not get into the Champions League group stage due to a “preposterous” coefficient issue.
If current semi-finalists Villareal win the competition this year and do not finish in a qualifying league position in Spain, the Scottish champions face being sacrificed to make room.
Jim White outlined the issue on talkSPORT that due to the European coefficient it would be the Scottish league that would suffer in that eventuality, which he branded “totally unfair”.
Speaking on talkSPORT this morning (Thursday 14 April, 10.20am), host Jim White said: “Both Rangers and Celtic, whoever wins the thing up north, have got to hope that Villarreal do not win the Champions League or they are in for a whopping, whopping disappointment. Surely it’s totally unfair?”
Simon Jordan was also outraged, saying: “How can it ever have been fair and equitable that champions of leagues don’t get to perform in the Champions League?
“It’s inequitable and it’s not right. The Champions League should feature champions.
“When you think about it, it’s actually quite preposterous isn’t it? The Champions League allows four teams… to come in from the Premier League, but the Champions of the Scottish league – a league that [had] the first British team to win this competition – are not allowed to go in automatically.
“I think this coefficient is a load of old cobblers.”
Ridiculous
It is quite plainly ridiculous that a crucial target that has been on the table for both sides of Glasgow all season could be taken away through events elsewhere.
After finally negotiating automatic entry into the group stage for the league winners, it would be a real slap in the face for Scottish football if that were instantly dismissed.
It is perhaps unlikely that this situation comes about, with Villarreal the weakest of the remaining sides in the competition on paper.
But then nobody would have given them much chance against Bayern Munich who they overcame in the quarter finals.
If anything it could soften the blow on missing out on the title this season, not that either side would to see their rivals win it.
But it is the latest example that the shows UEFA’s coefficient is little more than a tool to protect the biggest clubs against failure at the expense of others.
In other Rangers news, Aaron Ramsey has provided an update on his plans for the future as his loan move approaches its end.