Rangers fans are asking why one of Celtic’s games in hand are not being played this week as the Parkhead club look to prepare for the Scottish Cup Final.
Given both Aberdeen and Celtic’s exits from the Betfred Cup, it freed up this midweek card for an outstanding game between the two to be completed amid a hectic schedule.
But despite this, the match has not been scheduled by the SPFL as Celtic catch a breather just in time for their trip to Hampden to face Hearts.
With Rangers famously being forced to play four games in eight days in the 07/08 season which crashed and burned as the club reached the UEFA Cup Final, Gers fans are asking the question.
Why haven’t Celtic and Aberdeen been made to play their game in hand this week when both are free to play following their cup exits?
Suspicious Rangers fans raised an eyebrow as Celtic prepare to face Hearts in the Hampden showcase this weekend:
https://twitter.com/Wilf1872/status/1338391043998408704
The situation is completely at the discretion of the SPFL too, according to their own rules.
Sections G3, G4 and G5 reads:
“Subject to Rule C42, the Board shall have discretion to schedule and to reschedule the date, time and/or venue of any Official Match as it shall consider appropriate.
“Where reasonably practicable the Board shall consult with and shall take into account any representations made by participating Clubs before rescheduling the date, time and/or venue of an Official Match.
“Each Club shall comply with and play in the relevant fixtures comprised in the fixture schedule determined by the Board and any rescheduled date, time and/or venue determined from time to time by the Board for Official Matches in which the Club is a participant.”
Basically, with the backdrop of the pandemic, the SPFL really should’ve been scheduling this match in at the next available slot but haven’t done so in this instance for whatever reason.
Celtic will, however, have more opportunities to play the game in the future after crashing out of both the Betfred Cup and the Europa League already this season.
It’s not the first time there’s been suspicion raised about fixture scheduling to suit Celtic either.
A leading Scottish Premiership chief claims she wasn’t informed about a Celtic fixture amendment with her team before the SPFL confirmed it.
