When the Scottish League fixtures were drawn up at the start of the season, all dates were agreed by all teams. The season would end on the weekend of the 18th of May, the weekend before the Scottish cup final, as it has been for over 100 years.
Now however, in a competitive league, one team has wrangled an extension of the League to help them out, but that doesn't seem to be enough, and they now want more favours to help them win it.
Rangers have a bit of a pile up of games, mostly of their own making. However, they want games moved, and the league extended to help them win it, to the detriment of every other club.
The Fixture Pile Up
Rangers like to point out one game, postponed in the new year as a mark of respect for Phil O'Donnell, as the cause of their pile up, and as such it wasn't their fault. But let's look at some of the real reasons.
In November, both Celtic and Rangers had games postponed due to a Scottish national game. Celtic rearranged their game for a midweek in December (incidentally they dropped points the Saturday after). Despite also having two midweeks free to play their game in December and another in February, Rangers choose not to. This game is still to be played.
Back in December, Rangers asked for a postponement of a game against Gretna FC in order to prepare for a Champion League tie against Lyon. This request was granted. This postponed game against Gretna could also have been played in the free February slot. Rangers choose not to play that game either.
At the same time, Celtic were getting on with their fixtures in both League and Champion League. Three days before Celtic played the reigning European champions AC Milan (and just three days after another Champions League game against Shakhtar Donetsk) they travelled to Hearts and dropped points.
Four days afterwards, they dropped more points to St Mirren. All the while, Rangers were having a rest preparing for their 3-0 defeat to Lyon. These points dropped, whilst Rangers were having their break, may prove to cost Celtic the League title, but that's the way the game works, and they played the games they were arranged to play.
Let's not forget, happening around the same time was Aberdeen's attempts at getting a match postponed to help them in their UEFA-Cup run. After Motherwell refused to postpone a game to help them prepare for Europe, did the SPL then step in to help Aberdeen out as they have now done with Rangers? Well no, of course they didn't.
This all resulted in Rangers' fixture congestion, without even mentioning Rangers' failure to advance from their Champions League group, which resulted in them being in the UEFA Cup in the first place. Add to that, their failure to dispose of lower division teams in domestic cups at the first attempt, meaning replays had to be played.
The Fall Out
So, as Rangers dropped out of the Champion League and went on a UEFA Cup run, games start to pile up, and the SPL offer an unprecedented extension of the league to help Rangers. Was that enough for them?
No.
They now want another game postponed (leading to a bigger extension) to help them out (because the last time went so well presumably?). Walter Smith, one of the most vocal in calling for this, even said, “We will not ask them to extend the season". He quickly changed his tune, and complained until they got one.
Not only are Rangers being given an advantage from offers to free up their schedule, but every other team is being forced to move their games to fit in with Rangers' new schedule.
The Rangers' spin team are now out in force, pointing out that their UEFA Cup opponents will have a break before the final, ignoring the fact that they are at the beginning of their season and not at the very end, which will probably end up causing them problems as they try to catch up.
Also being ignored is the fact this favour being afforded by the Russian football authorities is the very same favour Rangers have already been given by the SPL earlier this season.
A final point being ignored is that back when Rangers were having their break to prepare for Lyon, did the French League extend the same cortesy to Lyon? The answer, if you want to know, is no.
Another myth that they have rolled out is that during Celtic's run to the UEFA Cup final in 2003, the SPL changed games to help them prepare. The SPL did no such thing, but another team agreed to move a game forward a few days. There was no extension, no other teams were forced to change anything, no one else was effected.
Is there any reason Rangers can't move their game forward instead of back? But then that would only help them in the UEFA cup and not in the League, which is what they really want.
In fact, during that 2003 season, Celtic themselves did protest that the timing of a Celtic-Rangers game, arranged just two days after Celtic returned from an away UEFA Cup semifinal match, was unfair. That game did go ahead as planned, and Rangers manager and players told Celtic that they should be “thankful” they were in the position that they were in, and that they were “moaners”. How things have changed now it is they who are in this position.
SFA president George Peat even claimed yesterday, in regards to offering even more help, that:
"It would be exactly the same if it were Celtic, Aberdeen, Hibs, Motherwell, Dundee United, any of the others.”
Well George, it was Celtic in 2003, and no extension was offered to help them, it was Aberdeen earlier in the year, and you didn't help them either.
Trying to get any fair and unbiased response to this from Rangers is proving difficult, as the BBC found out when they asked the club for a simple statement to the initial refusal of the SPL to postpone the match against Dundee United.
The BBC were told Rangers had “refused to comment, stating that a Scottish national newspaper has exclusive rights to their reaction”. Have they sold these rights to make money, or given them away for certain generous publicity from said newspaper? Who knows.
Anyone reading this who is not familiar with Scottish Football need only ask themselves this: Would the league in your country extended to help one team at the expense of others?
I think the answer would be a resounding 'No'.
It seems to me that Rangers will try by hook or crook to make sure this year's league trophy ends up at Ibrox. Their current problems are of their own making, but they want help from others.
This second extension they have called for was completely unworkable, with Rangers requesting to move the league even later, despite the fact that players have to be released for international duty. Celtics' Georgios Samaras has already had to pull out of a Greece friendly because of the first extension, which could ultimately cost cost him his place at EURO 2008.
It has for now been turned down (Rangers are unbelievably crying foul), but the first one has already compromised the Scottish League. Every team in this year's Scottish Premier League has been competing on equal terms. Except for one.
Comments (34) Add a comment »
from 5 days ago
It always makes me laugh when any club complains about fixture congestion, and I include my own club Liverpool in this as Rafa has had some inept complaints in the past.
If you don't have the squad to compete in the competitions you have signed up for, and want to win, then tough, thats the game, you should have thought about that at the start of the season.
I don't know all of the ins and outs of Rangers situation, or how it compares to Celtic's in the past, but I say the same for all clubs, if you want to win these competitions, you have to play alot of games, so just get on with it. Some non-league clubs who don't have the luxury of under-soil heating and millions spent on their pitches end the season needing to play 4 games in 6 days, and the games might mean just as much to them as they do to those further up the football pyramid.
from 5 days ago
Well I guess everybody complains about 'big' teams these days...
from 5 days ago
I'm not sure what you mean Salomon. It is Rangers themselves who are complaining, saying they are getting no help. I am merely responding to their complaints and showing that they have had plenty of help.
from 5 days ago
I mean you. I dont think you would have written this article, had it been Aberdeen or Hearts.. Thats just my view though...
from 5 days ago
If Aberdeen or Hearts were competing for the League title and asking for help to the detriment of another team then yes, I would have written it. But they're not competing and they're not getting any help. In fact you'll note in the article that Aberdeen did ask for help. They didn't get it.
from 5 days ago
What if they WERE competing for the league? Why would that make any difference? - Are you that it is alright for Aberdeen, Hearts or any other team in the league to receive extra help, as long as they're not challenging for the title??
As Simon said, I dont know all the ins and outs of the Rangers situation but That doesn't sit right with me....
from 5 days ago
I mean, what if they WEREN'T competing for the league...
from 5 days ago
If it's not to the detriment of any other team then they wouldn't be effecting anyone else unlike this case. If they were competing for something or it effected any other team then yes. If they weren't competing for anything and it didn't effect anyone else then they wouldn't actually be getting help with anything.
Rangers are competing for a title against another team, one team have been given help, the other has been given none.
from 5 days ago
Seen, I get it now...
from 5 days ago
"Now, however, in a competitive league, one team has wrangled an extension of the League to help them out but that doesn't seem to be enough and the now want more favours to help them win it."
Show me fixture time table Jhohn where Rangers could of played all of their games in the remaining three competitions without this extension. Yet you have the cheek to talk abour spin.
from 5 days ago
John there was no way of fitting in the fixtures before the 18th. They have now asked for a further game to be postponed not to help them win the league, but to win the UEFA Cup...the extra postponement does not help Rangers win the league at all, as they still have to play 3 games in 6 days after the UEFA cup if the game did get postponed.
That is for Scotland...
I don't agree with all of Rangers requests but I ask you one question John.
Do you want Rangers to win the UEFA Cup for Scotland?
from 5 days ago
The fixtures could technically have been fitted in before the 18th. It would have been tight but that is Rangers' own fault for postponing games and not rearranging them when they had the chance.
Rangers' have injuries which they will still have on Saturday but will not have if the league is extended. This second extension request is to help win the league. As Simon pointed out, it is a squad game these days and Rangers have a squad of 58 more than enough to play on Saturday then again on Wednesday. Also, 3 games in 6 days along with a weeks break is not the same as 3 in 6 without a break, they would gain an advantage from it.
Your extra days preparation against Lyon resulted in your worst result in Europe this year hardly a good precedent.
Rangers are not playing for Scotland, this is not international football, Rangers are playing for Rangers.
Most Inter fans don't support AC in Europe, Most Man City fans don't support Man U in Europe etc etc, I could go on all night with examples so I hope you're not planning on suggesting there is anything sinister if I'm not supporting Rangers.
After all, last time I seen any Rangers fans in great number I was told to (and I quote) "go home because the famine is over" so in their eyes I'm clearly not to be regarded as Scottish anyway, so please don't claim Rangers are representing me (or the whole of Scotland).
from 5 days ago
Haha well I'm proud to support Celtic in Europe as well as Aberdeen or whoever esle.
I claim it is for Scotland as Scottish football is a joke outside Scotland. This would do wonders for the national reputation.
The request has been denied so really it's case closed.
I was proud of Celtic in the UEFA cup final and jumped for joy when Scott McDonald silenced AC Milan. It's a pity you don't feel the same way.
from 5 days ago
I'm not quite sure what part of what I wrote you found funny, though unfortunately I can imagine what part.
Scottish football isn't a joke outside Scotland, population wise Scottish teams compete reasonably in Europe, we can't compete with countries ten times the size. A UEFA cup won't change that.
There's no need to pity me, I support a specific football team, like most people do, not every team from the same country as me. That's just strange.
In fact if anything I'd rather see the team that plays good entertaining football win. Guess which UEFA cup finalist is more likely to provide that?
from 4 days ago
John I live outside Scotland and yes it is considered a joke. I fight every day of my life for the reputation of my country and its football. I especially know we are a small country, even more reason to get behind one of our teams when they do well.
A UEFA Cup would help as far as I'm concerned.
Call that strange all you want. It's not like I support them in the league. Only when they represent Scotland.
I'm not saying you must and I also don't understand why you have me painted as such a bad guy. If it's because I support Rangers then that is just sad. You're so stuck in your opinion you can't even contemplate the points of others.
Read through my articles and you'll see I'm an honest proud Scot.
from 4 days ago
I live outside Scotland too and I certainly don't spend my days defending Scottish football, in fact in 3 years I don't think I've had to do it once.
I don't have you painted as a bad guy, you asked me if I would be supporting Rangers and I simply told you I wouldn't and I gave you the reasons. I don't know why you asked me, it didn't seem relevant, perhaps you knew what my answer would be and thought you could use that to paint me as the bad guy.
from 4 days ago
Nothing seems relevant to you unless you bring it upand no, I wasn't trying to paint you as a bad guy, I'm just saying we are all different.
from 4 days ago
OK then, What relevance does my support or non-support for Rangers in the UEFA cup have to do with the rearrangement and extension of the Scottish league?
The answer is none, but I still answered you anyway. You just didn't agree with my answer, but I don't see how that's me painting you as a bad guy.
from 4 days ago
I argued the extension wasn't to help them win the league but for the UEFA Cup so I therefore asked if you would like to see them win the UEFA Cup. So I don't see how that is none?
You then accused me of asking you because I had some sort of hidden agenda.
I even agreed that Rangers didn't need the extension, but if you don't ask you don't get.
from 4 days ago
And if you don't get, complain, complain and complain some more, as David Murray has been doing.
from 4 days ago
Just heard George Burley coming out in support of Rangers. Any idea why that is?
from 4 days ago
Has he really? Lets look at Georges quote.
"I think it's ridiculous at this stage of the season, when I'm naming the squad, that Rangers still have seven games to play," he said.
"It's something that shouldn't be allowed to happen and it's something the SPL and everybody in Scottish football has to look at."
So is he supporting an extension? Don't think so, that would mean Rangers are playing games even closer to the international match. How does that solve his issue?
Is he saying Rangers shouldn't be in this position in the first place? Yes. and as pointed out my article above it's Rangers' own fault they're in this position. They postponed games and didn't rearrange them when they had the chance. George is correct, it is ridiculous they still have 7 games to play, but it's mostly of their own making.
He also says "And it's something that the SPL and everyone in Scottish football has got to look at." which is simply not true. English, Italian, French teams play the exact same amount of league games as Scotland and still manage to compete in Europe (successfully) without any problems.
from 4 days ago
Haha I wash my hands of this. We need a winter break was probably what he meant. But you know better than the national manager so I won't argue with you.
from 4 days ago
If he meant "We need a winter break" that doesn't really support the idea of him coming out in support of Rangers either.
He's doing all right as National manager though, maybe he should stick to that. Hopefully he doesn't abandon us in the middle of a contract like certain others.
from 4 days ago
Haha be careful with that chip on your shoulder.
from 4 days ago
Oh come on. Surely you agree with me on that last point? You are after all a big supporter of the national team. Surely you would've been against Walter Smith walking out on the team in the middle of a qualifying campaign?
On another note. I went to see if you had written an article criticising Walter at the time, it seems you weren't writing for the site when it happened. But I'm glad I looked through your articles because I found this magnificent quote regarding Scottish teams in this years champions league where you talk of Rangers redeeming Scottish football after Celtic being dismal.
"At least half of Glasgow seems to be on firm footing. For one Scottish side to make the final 16 would be a success—two would be nothing less than the dawning of a new era"
Well you were right there, one team did make it, although it wasn't the half who were apparently on a 'good footing'. I thought you would've written an article on Celtic's progression since you like to promote Scottish teams but I can't see one.
I did read your articles on Rangers' first 5 champions league games though, but I can't seem to find your report on the 6th game either.
from 4 days ago
You just see what you want to see and hear what suits you. Don't mention my article on Celtic having a chance against Barcelona then.....very 'objective' john.
If you remember Celtic were dismal in the first game against Donetsk and Rangers won...that is when I wrote that. For you to twist it is again subjective.
Walter was maybe wrong but as you well know contracts mean nothing in football. I surely thought you would see some of my points but you seem unable so why pleasure your ego.
I think we shall leave it there. We are now well away from the subject. Was fun!
from 4 days ago
Come on, 5 articles praising Rangers in the Champions League (one of which includes a dig at Celtic) then nothing when they are knocked out.
1 article faintly praising Celtic then nothing when they qualify.
All this would be fine if you didn't claim to be all for Scottish teams in Europe, (you did point out to me this site isn't about objectivity) but you do. I'll probably never write something praising a Rangers performance but then I'm not claiming to support them in Europe.
Walter was wrong. I think I seen an article you wrote praising George Burley's appointment because he was Scottish. What use is a Scottish manager if, like McLeish and Smith, they can't show any loyalty to the country.
from 5 days ago
Rangers should take a hard look at themselves there tryin every move in the book to win the league.The Bleacher report has got it spot on.Stop the cryin and get on with it Rangers. By Brendan
from 5 days ago
Everyone is constantly talking about this Uefa Cup campaign as good for scottish football. On first glance it should be good for the scottish game. The Uefa co-efficient should be increased thus helping Scottish teams avoid extra qualifiers, perhaps even gain an extra euro place. The profile of the Scottish game could also be raised.
However, taking a closer look we find that for the co-efficient to be affected to any significant degree(i.e. to have an effect on euro places, seeding etc.)teams need to WIN matches. Rangers, outside of qualifiers, have won just 4 games in normal time out of 15 matches in Europe this season. Assuming they WIN the trophy in their customary fashion(a draw then penalties no away goals this time)the increase in Scotlands coefficient would be negligible.
OK but it raises the profile of the Scottish game doesn't it? Yes, and the military junta's massacre of Buddhist monks raised the profile of Borneo, didn't it? I, personally have recieved emails from Barcelona, Granada, London, Copenhagen, Malmo, Paris and even Lima (yes, I'm sooo cosmopolitan)mentioning Rangers' semi final 'win'. How many do you think were complimentary? One(take a bow Dani), and he has never seen Rangers play!!!!! The others were united in their disgust for rangers' frankly disgraceful and shameless tactics and infuriatingly derided it as somehow "scottish". Thank you, Rangers. Now all of Scotland is tainted by your actions.
from 5 days ago
Well I disagree, I am extremely proud to be Scottish. Not just for Rangers achievements but for Celtic's aswell.
Must Rangers lose intentionally just because they don't have a great footballing squad? I think not.
from 5 days ago
...AND ANOTHER THING!!!!!
When did this idea come about that you need a full week to prepare for a UEFA cup final? Sevilla, Español, Middlesborough among others all played 3/4 days prior to the final.
from 2 days ago
This whole thing is a disgrace. Once upon a time Rangers could have got away with it, but not now. As it is they have managed to get an extension, which seriously damages the credibility of the league.
Murray's claims that the refusal to reschedule further makes the SPL a "laughing stock" is nonsense. Nobody cares! It's Rangers' horrific style of football that is getting the attention (and their attempts to fiddle the league fixtures). Middlesbrough's fixture list when they got to the UEFA Cup final was worse. I don't see anybody slating the Premiership, with 3 out of 4 European Cup semi-finalists.
The SFA (run by Rangers Man Gordon Smith) offering to move the Scottish Cup final was another embarassment. (This is of course the same SFA who had their manager tapped last year by, er, Rangers.) Yes, the Gers are going to win the UEFA Cup "for Scotland". Come on. They pulled 4 players out of the last Scotland international squad.
Celtic had to play 4 games in 10 days as recently as December. Why weren't Rangers packing the games in then too? And of course St Petersburg can cancel games - their season has just started! Earlier on this season the Gers had the Gretna game cancelled when there was space in the fixtures.
Shifting games back because of Europe is a nonsense. Celtic played a match a day early so we had time to prepare for Seville - but we weren't trying to get games put back so that we would be stronger by the time they came round. And we weren't trying to get the league extended.
That's outright cheating. In summary - theis whole thing is a disgrace.
from 2 days ago
Cracking article John big respect Cmon the HOOPS my view on this is the same. The Sfa/pl big shots are corrupt they make the italian match fixing scandal look legal.As for walter and ally they have found out that the mighty gers dont have the powers they once had.This is down to Celtic having an excelllent legal team in place founded by the great Fergus Mccann.Celtic had in advance sent a legal team to brussels to state the case about the possibility of second extension being put in place to accommodate Rangers.When it was announced that they had requested for a second extension our friends at the Sfa/pl recieved a legal document stating that a further extension would see the league being suspended.Fergus Mccann got this legal team together because of the Jorge Cadete red tape scandal involving his registration being held back which in due course cost Celtic the league the Sfa official in charge of this was a Rangers fan and personal friend of David you know who.Remember Cadetes first game against Rangers he had a legit goal chalked off for hand ball tv replays showed that he chested the ball then finished it off with a superb volley.Rangers went on to win that match 3 2 two days later it emerged that the linesman in question was a life long rangers fan who had wait for it travelled to that match with his brother on a Rangers supporters bus.Same Old Rangers Always Cheating.
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