Celtic’s upcoming fixture away to St Johnstone has been postponed, with the Scottish champions requesting the delay to better prepare for their Champions League play-off tie. The announcement was confirmed by the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) on their official website. Celtic will face an opponent yet to be determined in their quest to reach the lucrative group stages of Europe’s elite club competition.
This decision comes as part of a policy allowing clubs engaged in UEFA competition play-offs to postpone their league fixtures. The SPFL confirmed that all five clubs involved in European qualifiers—Celtic, Heart of Midlothian, Rangers, Motherwell, and Hibernian—have opted for postponements to optimise their preparations.
Celtic’s Focus on Champions League Preparation
With the important Champions League play-offs fast approaching, Celtic’s management has opted to utilise this facility for a postponement wisely. Celtic’s play-off round first leg is scheduled for August 18 or 19, and the return leg will follow a week later on August 25 or 26.
SPFL’s Flexible Fixture Policy
The SPFL introduced this provision to better support clubs aiming to qualify for the league phase of European competitions. By permitting clubs to postpone fixtures without the need for agreement from their opponents, the SPFL hopes to enhance the chances of these teams in continental tournaments.
Impact of Postponements on Domestic Matches
As a result of these postponements, the impacted fixtures will be rescheduled either for the Champions League midweek of September 8/9 or the Europa League midweek of September 15/16. The league landscape will change greatly in the weeks surrounding these play-off ties, particularly affecting the regular season’s rhythm.
The SportiveNews view
This postponement aligns with Celtic’s strategic approach to enhancing their chances in the Champions League. The additional preparation time may prove beneficial in securing a spot in the group stages, which offers financial incentives worth approximately £40 million. In contrast, a quick exit could lead to the familiar fallback of the Europa League.
Frequently asked questions
Why has Celtic’s match against St Johnstone been postponed?
The match has been postponed at Celtic’s request to allow the team to prepare for their Champions League play-off tie, with the opponent yet to be determined.
When will the postponed match be rescheduled?
The rescheduling for the impacted fixtures will likely occur during the midweeks dedicated to the Champions League or Europa League in September, following the UEFA draws.
What does this mean for the other Scottish teams in Europe?
Other clubs involved in UEFA competitions, such as Heart of Midlothian, Rangers, Motherwell, and Hibernian, have also requested postponements, thus impacting several domestic league fixtures to prioritise European commitments.
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