UEFA slaps SFA in the face, denies appeal

By: Ian Rose | February 16th, 2008

I can’t tell you how much this angers me. In my opinion, UEFA exists to coordinate the European leagues, to make sure they all adhere to basically the same rules, and to stage the major continental competitions. As far as how leagues choose their participants in those competitions, within reason, I believe UEFA should be uninvolved. Now, an issue that everyone thought was settled is very much alive because UEFA poked their head, again, where it doesn’t belong.

The SFA appealed to UEFA for the ability to slightly alter its second entry into the UEFA Cup. As it stands right now, our first UEFA Cup spot goes to the third-placed team in the league (last year, Aberdeen). Our second spot goes to the winner of the Scottish Cup. Fine. But, if a team already bound for Europe wins the Cup, it goes to the Cup loser. Last year, that was Dunfermline. The year before, it was Gretna. Both teams went out in their first qualifying round of the UEFA Cup, and each managed only a home draw, or 0.5 UEFA points. Basically, if the Cup loser goes through, Scotland effectively gets three teams instead of four in Europe because a team with a good Cup run, but no ability to compete on a larger stage, gets in.

The SFA wanted to change it so that, in the event that one of the three top teams in the league won the Cup, the second spot would go to the fourth-placed team in the league. It seems reasonable to me, but UEFA has denied it, so another European spot will likely be up for grabs as a reward for losing a match, the Cup final.

A terrible decision, and now I can only hope that a decent side like Motherwell or Aberdeen can pull off a Cup run, or else we’re back in the old situation, being represented in Europe by Celtic, Rangers, a good third-placed side (currently Well), and the likes of St. Johnstone or Partick Thistle.