The contents of the statement released by Hearts on Wednesday evening is the latest hint yet that Rangers won’t fulfil their remaining 2019/20 fixtures.
Jambos owner and CEO, Ann Budge, has asked all staff members at the club to take a 50% pay cut for an indefinite period in response to the suspension of the Scottish Premiership [Heartsfc.co.uk].
The move came just five days after fixtures were halted, but it’s been presented as a pre-emptive move, with the Edinburgh club reportedly set to miss out on £500,000 through unfulfilled league games and another half a million pounds if their Scottish Cup semi-final against Hibernian is scrapped [Daily Record].
There’s been plenty of speculation about whether or not the league will restart, while earlier in the week UEFA pushed Euro 2020 back a year in order to give domestic leagues more wiggle room [UEFA.com].
Yet, in the statement, Budge clearly suggests she doesn’t believe any more football will be played this season: ‘it is most likely that the game will not resume until July/early August at the earliest.’
If that does prove to be the case, big decisions will need to be made by the footballing authorities in the country.
Will the season be declared null and void or will Celtic be crowned champions? Will Hearts be relegated or will there be no relegations, only promotions?
Many with Rangers connections have called for the campaign to be scapped, with any attempt to give out titles before they are earned, compromising sporting integrity.
At least some of that viewpoint is shared by Spanish FA President, Luis Rubiales [AS], and Bears will hope his stance has an influence on the SFA and SPFL decision-makers.
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