Rangers fans have been expressing their disappointment after their Scottish Premiership match with Livingston was postponed on Saturday afternoon.
The match has since been rescheduled for Sunday at 3 pm [Rangers] as the Ibrox club and the SPFL hope to avoid a potential fixture pile-up.
But the fact the Ibrox pitch wasn’t deemed good enough to play on this afternoon and looks set to be battered tomorrow, it’s had Rangers fans wondering about Thursday night’s tie with Braga.
Whilst there is absolutely no suggestion Rangers Europa League tie with the Portuguese side is under threat from Storm Dennis, but heavy rain is forecasted up until the match.
That means the struggling Ibrox surface is set to be battered ahead of the crunch Europa League last-32 tie.
It means that there’s an outside chance we could be revisiting the pitch inspection question come the middle of next week.
But what would it actually mean if the Ibrox pitch was deemed unplayable for an official UEFA competition?
According to section 25 of the UEFA Europa League 2018-21 cycle guidelines, here are the rules:
25.01 If a match cannot start or cannot be played in full, the full or remaining match time is, as a rule, played on the next day, without prejudice to any possible disciplinary measures. For that purpose, the host clubs must conclude all the necessary agreements to ensure that the required facilities are available and can be operated.
25.02 If the match cannot be rescheduled the next day, the UEFA administration fixes a new date, during a reserve date or other date. The rescheduling may entail exceptions to the regular match calendar (see Annex A).
25.03 As a rule, a rescheduled match is played at the same venue. If the circumstances require a change of venue, the UEFA administration must approve the alternative venue.
25.04 In exceptional circumstances and for cases of extreme urgency which may have a significant impact on the running of the competition and to ensure the match is completed, if necessary without spectators, the home club must guarantee a back-up stadium, for approval by the UEFA administration. For emergency back- up stadiums, exceptions can be made to all existing stadium requirements.
25.05 In all cases, the UEFA administration must approve the venue and fix the new kick-off time taking account of both teams’ needs wherever possible.
So, if the unthinkable is to happen and Rangers’ Europa League tie with Braga could be postponed, then it would immediately be rescheduled for the next day.
After that, UEFA may then fix a new date and/or the game may well have to played at an alternative ground so it does not impact the competition.
Can you imagine if we also had to squeeze in that match against Livingston as well?
