Celtic could claim a ninth consecutive Scottish Premiership title if the season ends next week
Last Updated: 15/05/20 11:26pm
The Scottish Premiership 2019-20 season could end next week with the SPFL expected to make a final decision, which could see Celtic declared champions and Hearts relegated.
All 12 Premiership clubs met via conference call on Friday, with SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster also invited to the meeting.
Celtic are 13 points clear at the top and on the verge of a ninth consecutive title, while Hearts are four points adrift at the bottom of the table, but both clubs must wait to learn their fate with an SPFL board meeting scheduled for next week.
UEFA has asked Europe’s top leagues to present their plans by May 25. The Scottish FA have suspended all football in Scotland until at least June 10, a date which is subject to review.
1:34 First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon says there is not any significant change to the country’s lockdown rules and insists they cannot ease up
In April, the 42 SPFL clubs voted – after some controversy – to end the season in the Championship, League One and League Two amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The SPFL board were also given the power to end the season in the Premiership if it became clear the fixtures could not be played.
In recent weeks, Scottish Premiership clubs have become resigned to the notion this season’s league fixtures are unlikely to be completed.
1:23 Charlie Nicholas has criticised the SPFL’s handling of the vote that ended the season early in the lower leagues
The SFA are working in conjunction with the SPFL and the Scottish government to formulate a plan for a resumption of football later in the summer, but Scotland remains in lockdown for at least another fortnight.
The SFA remain committed to completing this season’s Scottish Cup at some point later in the calendar year, with the tournament at the semi-final stage.
McGregor: Celtic deserve ninth title in a row
Celtic midfielder Callum McGregor says the club deserve to be crowned Scottish Premiership champions and secure a ninth league title in a row.
The Hoops are 13 points clear of rivals Rangers in the Premiership, and could be declared champions if the remaining eight rounds of fixtures are not completed.
“Regardless if we win it on the pitch, or in the circumstances that dictate we can’t finish the season but still get crowned, either way we’d be worthy champions,” McGregor told Sky Sports News.
“We’ve been absolutely outstanding and, over the course of the season, we’ve got so many wins together in a real attacking style, scoring a lot of goals.
0:44 Celtic midfielder Callum McGregor says that Celtic deserve to be crowned Scottish champions for a ninth successive season
“The boys were desperate to actually go and finish the season on a real high, the way we were playing, but that’s been taken away.
“But to go and get nine titles in a row, that’d only be the second time in the club’s history, so that tells you how big of an achievement that is in itself and something I know the players would be extremely proud of.”
“So there are a few technicalities to work out there. Certainly we expect the clubs to reach agreement that the season would end and that decision could well be ratified on Monday by the SPFL board.”
