November 1 – UEFA will refuse any request by Celtic to play European fixtures in either England or Ireland next season as a result of their ground being used for the Commonwealth Games.
Celtic Park will not be available early on next summer since it will host the opening ceremony of the Games on July 23, after which the pitch will have to be relaid. It will only be ready for use some weeks afterwards.
UEFA say that that only “extreme circumstances” permit clubs to play their games outside of the home jurisdiction and that the Commonwealth Games did not qualify.
That would complicate matters if Celtic win the Scottish league title and are then required to play a two-legged Champions League qualifier. Ibrox and Hampden – the two obvious alternative candidates – will also be in use as Commonwealth Games venues, meaning a new location would need to be found.
Celtic’s chief executive Peter Lawwell had asked UEFA to look at options including using a stadium outside Scotland.
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