UEFA move intensifies £40m pressure on Rangers title challenge – report

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Rangers could be handed a major £40m Champions League boost amid the decision by UEFA to ban Russian clubs from competing in European competition.

The governing body for the UEFA Champions, Europa and Europa Conference Leagues have opted to ban the nation’s clubs from participating in their competitions due to the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

According to the Glasgow Times, as a result, this could see Scotland offered a Champions League group place regardless of the competition’s winner this season.

On top of that, the Scottish Premiership’s runner up would also be offered an easier route into the competition’s Group Stages via entering at the third stage of non-Champions qualifying, guaranteeing them a spot in European competition.

As things currently stand, there is already immense pressure on the outcome of this season’s Scottish top flight due to the likelihood of the winner earning automatic Champions League Group Stage qualification.

Thanks largely to Rangers’ work in the Europa League in recent seasons, the winner will be guaranteed qualification if this season’s Champions League isn’t won by someone who doesn’t qualify through their domestic divisions.

Given the last run of winners of the competition, this is very unlikely.

UEFA move intensifies Rangers Champions League pressure

With a reported £40m on the line for qualification, it has fans of both sides of the Old Firm nervous heading into the final furlong of the season.

This news will only stand to heighten the tension and whilst both the winner and runner-up in the Scottish Premiership will get a crack at qualifying no matter what happens, qualifying automatically provides a mega financial assurance in the transfer market.

As things stand, Rangers have thrown away a six point lead and sit three points behind Celtic with nine Premiership matches to play.

Tensions are rising at Ibrox and the pressure is on manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst to deliver amid a run of bitterly disappointing domestic form.