Rangers fans have been raising eyebrows over one of the biggest SPFL stories of the day with Celtic benefitting from the organisation’s latest news release.
The SPFL have announced Scottish clubs including Rangers and Celtic can apply for fixture postponements for playoff round UEFA clashes to help aid the progress of Scottish teams.
Other FAs around Europe, most notably in the Netherlands, have given their clubs a better chance of qualification by granting them a weekend off between matches to prepare for qualifiers.
Rangers experienced this first-hand against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League Playoff qualifiers in 22/23 and 23/24.
But whilst the news will be welcomed by most at Ibrox, Rangers fans are raising a few eyebrows at the timing of the announcement.
- READ MORE: When Red Bull suggested that they had agreed a shirt sponsorship deal with Rangers only to pull plug
Rangers and Celtic eye Champions League playoff spot
Rangers are currently on track to earn a spot in the Champions League qualifiers, with the club comfortably second in the Scottish Premiership table.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 1 |  CelticCeltic | 31 | 25 | 3 | 3 | 92 | 20 | 72 | 78 |
| 2 |  RangersRangers | 31 | 20 | 5 | 6 | 66 | 31 | 35 | 65 |
| 3 |  HibernianHibernian | 31 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 48 | 41 | 7 | 47 |
Next season, Rangers face the mammoth task of coming through three Champions League qualifiers to reach the competition’s revamped League Phase.
The financial difference between reaching the Champions League and the Europa League is stark, with Celtic earning over £19.5m more than Rangers in European competition this season.
But whilst the SPFL’s new rules will allow Rangers to apply for a Scottish Premiership postponement in the event the club reaches the playoff, the move also impacts Celtic.
For the last three seasons, Celtic have been riding on the coattails of Rangers’ solid work on the UEFA coefficient to earn automatic qualification to the Champions League.
But this season will be different, with the Scottish Premiership’s eventual winners needing to navigate a playoff of their own in the Champions Path of the Champions League qualifiers.
Rangers fans raise eyebrows over timing of SPFL announcement
Naturally, the timing of the entire thing has raised eyebrows, with the rule change coming into effect when Celtic need it most.
That’s not been missed by Rangers fans, who raised their eyebrows on social media:
One fan pointed to a lack of assistance afforded Rangers when the Ibrox side reached the UEFA Cup Final in 2008 and the Europa League Final of 2022.
The fan asked: “Where was this for two European Finals? Couldn’t make this up.”
Another pointed to Rangers having to play away against Ufa back in 2018, where the Gers travelled to the far reaches of Russia before playing at Celtic Park.
Another fan simply mused: “I wonder has changed this season?”
This fan sums up precisely how many Rangers fans are feeling about the timing of the rule change.
