Rangers will be joined in the Europa League Playoffs by bitter Euro rivals Slavia Prague as the fall-out from the Europa League shame game of last season has an impact on the new campaign.
As Rangers crashed out to the hands of Swedish Champions Malmo, Slavia were falling to defeat by Hungarian champs Ferencvaros.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQbZxp9wR8A
Jindřich Trpišovský’s side might’ve managed a 1-0 win on the night but the eventual 10 men of Ferencvaros held on after a 2-0 win in Hungary last week.
Rangers of course crashed out of the competition 4-2 on aggregate to Malmo after throwing away a 1-0 lead at Ibrox to lose 2-1 to 10 men themselves.
The Gers were without influential players Glen Kamara and Kemar Roofe for the clash due to suspensions that were picked up from the clash with the Czech Champions.
Roofe was handed a four-game ban for a dangerously high challenge on Czech keeper Ondrej Kolar which left the stopper with a fractured skull.
Kamara was controversially banned by UEFA for three matches for his reaction to disgraceful racist abuse suffered at the hands of Czech defender Ondrej Kudela.
Kudela was handed a 10-match suspension for racially abusing Kamara with two of those happening v Arsenal last season, five at Euro 2020 and two during this stage of Champions League qualification.
These two familiar foes weren’t the only ones to experience an upset in the Champions League qualifiers either.
Red Star Belgrade were knocked out by Moldovan champs Sheriff Tiraspol whilst Olympiakos were defeated by Ludogorets.
Those sides who’ve exited the competition will suffer a £30m–£40m blow to their finances after missing out on the Champions League group stages.
It could get worse for the Gers too as the potential knock-on effect ensures the damage could be felt for quite some time to come.
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