Rangers B win Glasgow Cup final against Celtic B on penalties
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STV News
13 minutes ago
- STV News
How much would Scottish clubs earn with European play-off success?
It's a huge week for Scottish football as four Premiership sides go into crucial European ties that will shape their season. Celtic, Rangers and Aberdeen will all be in action, determined to ensure they are playing at the highest possible level, while Hibernian face an all-or-nothing clash that could see them celebrating Conference Leaague qualification or bowing out of continental competition for the season. For Celtic and Rangers, it's simple: defeat Kairat Almaty or Club Brugge respectively, and the glamour and riches of the Champions League await. Lose, and there's the consolation prize of direct qualification to the Europa League. Aberdeen take on Romanian side FCSB knowing that a place in the Europa League awaits them, but there is the safety net of the Conference League and six guaranteed matchdays for the loser of the tie. Supporters of all four Scottish sides will be out in numbers to back their teams home and away, eagerly anticipating glamour matches against big European names, and plenty more drama and nights under the floodlights through until the end of the year at least. But it's not just about the prestige, the travel and the top-class opposition, there's also a lot of money at stake. Playing at any level of European football is lucrative, and those who play at the highest levels win the biggest prizes. We've had a look at the financial rewards on offer for our sides and what the difference will be for those who are successful over the next two weeks. SNS Group Rangers' win over Viktoria Plzen means only Club Brugge stand between the Ibrox side and the Champions League. Hearing the sounds of Handel's Zadok the Priest before kick-off is the sign that there's elite European action in store but UEFA could replace the Champions League anthem with the sound of cash registers ringing and the same point would be made. The money in Europe's top competition has grown to a staggering sum over the years and last year's revamp, with the expansion of the League Phase, put even more riches in the hands of those that qualify. The biggest single figure is the amount teams get just for reaching the 36-team League Phase. Each team gets €18.62m (£16.06m at today's exchange rate) as a welcome to the tournament proper. With that sum secured, all eyes turn to the draw on August 28, when teams learn which eight sides they will be up against. The benefits of a kind draw aren't just on the pitch, with the prize money for good performances bring in more cash. Each League Phase win will see a club add €2.2m (£1.81m) to their coffers, with a draw netting €700,000 (£604,000). Last season, Celtic's League Phase performance saw them earn €8.4m (£7.24m) from their three wins and three draws. UEFA pays further prize money depending on the final league position. The bonus prize pot is split into 666 equal shares of €275,000 (£237,000) and the team that finishes 36th in the league gets one share. An additional share is added for every place above 36th all the way up to first place, which receives 36 shares. Celtic's position last year, finishing 21st, meant they had 16 shares and pocketed another €4.4m (£3.79m). Teams who finish from ninth through to 24th get €1m (£862,000) for reaching the knock-out play-off round, while those who were ninth to 16th get another €1m (£862,000). Finishing in the top eight of the league is no easy task but that would bring a €2m bonus (£1.72m) plus another €11m (£9.49m) for participating in the round of 16. Beyond those stages the money goes up and up, and if a Scottish team upsets the odds to go that far, we'll break it down in much more detail at the time. Prize money and participation money is only part of the income from the competition though. Teams earn a huge amount from the matchday revenue of having at least four home games, with ticket sales, catering, corporate hospitality and other streams of income. The other major money-earner comes from television. UEFA sells the broadcast rights centrally and shares profits with clubs in a mechanism called the 'value pillar', which means each club's calculation is different. The payment is split into two parts. The larger portion is for the European part of their income and payments to clubs are based on two elements: How much the nation's broadcast market contributes to the overall pool; and the individual club's five-year co-efficient score. UEFA has not published figures for this part of the payment, but for guidance, Celtic is estimated to have earned around €9.6m (£8.42m). The non-European market share payout is simpler and based solely on a club's ten-year co-efficient. That will have brought Celtic an estimated €4m (£3.45m) last season. SNS Group Aberdeen's Scottish Cup triumph brought a place in the Europa League play-off. It will take a long, long time for memories of last season's Scottish Cup victory to fade from the minds of Aberdeen fans but right now it's one of the rewards for that win that occupy the Dons' thoughts. Cup glory meant a place in the Europa League play-offs and only Romanian side FCSB stand between Jimmy Thelin's side and the lucrative League Phase. Every effort will be made to try to set up eight games against what will undoubtedly include some big names in the second tier competition. If either Celtic or Rangers fail in their Champions League bid, the League Phase of this competition is where they will end up, and while the money is only a fraction of what the elite tournament offers, there's still plenty to be earned. The 'starting fee' for participating sides in the competition proper is €4.31m (£3.72m) which is only a quarter of the Champions League equivalent but still a significant welcome for each of the 36 teams. From there on, money has to be earned. Each League Phase win brings in €450,000 (£389,000), with a draw paying €150,000 (£130,000). Like in the Champions League, there's further prize money to be paid depending on a team's final league position. The bonus prize pot is split into 666 equal shares of €75,000 (£65,000) and the team that finishes 36th in the league gets one share. An additional share is added for every place above 36th all the way up to first place, which receives 36 shares. So a team that makes the top half in 18th place would have 19 shares and collect €1.42m (£1.23m) from the ranking bonus pot. Qualification for the knockout stages as a team in place 17-24 would bring €300k (£259k) as a prize for reaching the play-off. Reaching the same stage as a team ranked 9-16 would earn €600,000 (£518,000) with a bonus included. The high-performing sides who finish in the top eight of the League Phase go straight into the round of 16 with prize money of €1.75m (£1.51m) and an addition ranking bonus of €600,000 (£518,000). For illustration, Rangers finished in eighth place last season en route to the quarter-finals with four wins and two draws from eight games. That meant they had guaranteed €10.86m (£9.38m) by qualifying for the last 16 from the league. And in addition to the performance-based prize money broadcast funds are distributed through the 'Value Pillar' system again, with the overall pot about a quarter of the Champions League TV cash but still offering an individual split that could run into millions. SNS Group Hibs have been on a rollercoaster ride in Europe already this season. A two-legged all-or-nothing tie against Legia Warsaw will decide whether Hibs bow out of Europe this month or continue what's already been a drama-packed campaign by reaching the League Phase of the Conference League. The Easter Road side, who could be joined in the competition by Aberdeen if the Dons fail to get past FCSB, could enjoy a lucrative time in the competition that's designed to give sides from the continent's smaller leagues a chance to enjoy a longer run in Europe. The prize money is naturally a step down from the bigger competitions but could still be significant for Scottish sides. Each of the 36 sides that qualify for the League Phase receives an initial payment of €3.17m (£2.74m). For context, Hibs received just shy of £3m as prize money for finishing third in the Premiership last season. Performance-related prizes can add up to a big payout too, as a win delivers €400,000 (£346,000) and a draw €133,000 (£115,000). However, the Conference League only has six matchdays at this stage compared to eight in the other two competitions. The league ranking pays a bonus again, with that part of the prize pot split into 666 equal shares of €28,000 (£24,000) and the team that finishes 36th in the league gets one share. An additional share is added for every place above 36th all the way up to first place, which receives 36 shares. So a team that makes the top half in 18th place would have 19 shares and collect €532,000 (£460,000) from the ranking bonus pot. Reaching the knockout round play-offs brings €200,000 (£173,000) for teams in 17th to 24th place, and €400,000 (£346,000) for those in 9th to 16th. Teams in the top eight go straight to the round of 16 and collect €400,000 (£346,000) as a bonus and €800,000 (£692,000) for reaching that knockout round. A share of TV money is split under the same rules as the other competitions but with a much smaller pot of €57m (£49.2m) distributed among the teams, compared to the €853m (£737m) in the Champions League fund. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Metro
43 minutes ago
- Metro
When is the Champions League draw and when does the group stage start?
The Premier League season only got underway over the weekend but attention is already turning to when the Champions League action will begin. There is still qualifying to be done, with the final play-off round before the league stage starting on Tuesday night. Rangers and Celtic are in action in the two-legged affairs, taking on Club Brugge and Kazakh side Kairat respectively. The Scottish teams will be hoping to progress and join the five Premier League clubs and the giants of European football in the 36-side league phase. The Champions League changed dramatically last season as they old group stages were scrapped and every team was chucked in a giant league phase. Metro's new weekly football newsletter: In The Mixer. Exclusive analysis, FPL tips and transfer talk sent straight to your inbox every Friday – sign up, it's an open goal. Whether this was an improvement or not is up for discussion, but it will be the same again this season as the teams battle to ideally finish in the top eight, but at least the top 24. Here's everything you need to know about the forthcoming Champions League action. The draw will be held on Thursday August 28 in Monaco at 6pm. There are 36 teams in the league phase and each team plays eight games. The teams are split into four pots based on their UEFA coefficient, with a team drawn from pot one and then the eight opponents rustled up by the automated software. These eight opponents will be made up of two from each pot, with a home and away match against a team from each of the four pots. Teams will not play another from their same country and can't face more than two from one other country. The top eight in the league phase go straight into the last 16 of the competition, with the next 16 clubs going into a play-off to join them. will stream the draw. The fixture list and dates will be confirmed 'no later than Saturday August 30,' according to UEFA. The league phase games will begin on September 16 and run all the way until January 28. The knockout phase play-offs are in February and then the knockout phase proper begins in March. Pot 1: PSG, Real Madrid, Man City, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona Pot 2: Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, Atletico Madrid, Atalanta, Villarreal, Juventus, Eintracht Frankfurt Pot 2/3: Tottenham Pot 3: PSV, Ajax, Napoli, Sporting, Olympiacos, Slavia Prague, Marseille Pot 3/4: Monaco More Trending Pot 4: Galatasaray, Union Saint-Gilloise, Athletic Bilbao, Newcastle The play-off round for the league phase is still to be played, with the first legs on August 19 and 20, with the second following on August 26 and 27. Ferencvaros vs Qarabag Red Star Belgrade vs Pafos Bodo/Glimt vs Sturm Graz Celtic vs Kairat Basel vs Copenhagen Fenerbahce vs Benfica Rangers vs Club Brugge Defending champions PSG go into the tournament as favourites, with the Premier League winners Liverpool behind them. Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid follow in the odds, with Arsenal, Manchester City and Bayern Munich also considered contenders. PSG 5/1 Liverpool 11/2 Barcelona 6/1 Real Madrid 13/2 Arsenal 7/1 Man City 8/1 Bayern Munich 9/1 Chelsea 14/1 Newcastle 18/1 Odds courtesy of Betfair, full list available here The Europa League and Conference League draws are held at the same time on Friday August 29 at 1pm. MORE: Man Utd legend Wayne Rooney sends warning to Viktor Gyokeres after Arsenal debut MORE: Mikel Arteta told Arsenal should have signed £60m star instead of Noni Madueke from Chelsea MORE: Liverpool star linked with exit informs club of decision on his future
Daily Record
43 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Jamie Vardy is a Celtic 'panic signing' as Hotline reaches three brutal transfer conclusions
Michael Gannon mans the phones in a big week for the Scottish clubs in Europe and in the transfer window Our Scottish hopefuls are in Euro action this week – but it's the transfer window that still gets tongue wagging. Celtic fans have been less than impressed with their business so far with Premier League legend Jamie Vardy a name that refused to go away. Meanwhile Rangers supporters have been left baffled by some of the outgoings – as well as Russell Martin's tactics. First up, Andy Logan, Livingston, said: 'It's baffling to me why Celtic, if interested, haven't signed Vardy already given he is a free? He will already be a couple of months behind in training and match sharpness. Reeks of a panic signing to me. Paddy Gowans emailed: 'Celtic have taken p*** again with their signings. They don't give a monkeys about the supporters and Brendan Rodgers will be gone at the end of season." Peter Cooperwhite emailed: 'Now Rangers are trying to sell Nicolas Raskin because no one wants Hamza Igamane. 'Why do we want to sell players like these? Get rid of Kieran Dowell, Danilo and the other dross. 'Igamane came on for last 22 minutes and contributed more than Danilo has all season. The manager must be blinded at times, 50,000 fans can see it but he doesn't. It's strange.' Gers face Brugge in the Champions League play-offs tonight and Russell Black, Banchory, said: "It could be a highly embarrassing evening as Russell Martin's lack of any tactical nous is very apparent. 'His method of playing will just not work in the Scottish Premiership or anywhere else for that matter. 'I am deeply concerned for the future of the club, having had a season ticket from just before Souness came to Ibrox until Ally McCoist took over.' While Lorraine Wells, via email, said: 'I am frustrated with the same old, same old from callers Ashley and McEwan. I want to wish Rangers and Celtic well in Europe as they are representing Scotland.' Meanwhile the Hearts revolution hit a bump after going out of the Premier Sports Cup at St Mirren. And Alan Flett, Glasgow, said: 'Hearts fans really do take the biscuit. A few good results to begin the season with, and they think they can challenge for the title. 'They then lose to St. Mirren in the cup and now it's all doom and gloom. Derek McInnes is hopeless and all that rubbish! Get real! 'Over the course of the season, Hearts will lose as many games as they will win, and a third place finish in the league is as good as it will get.' Neil Renton, Leith, said: 'I had to laugh when Hearts boss Derek McInnes said he wanted his players to envisage lifting the League Cup in December. 'I'll make sure I get him and his players some tickets to see the trophy when it's on display at Easter Road after the mighty Hibs win it.' There was some advice for Scotland boss Steve Clarke as he prepares to pick his squad for the World Cup qualifiers. Joey Vimsante, Aberdeen, said: 'Fraser Hornby would be a good forward for Scotland. 'He is tall, and is scoring lots of goals in the German Bundesliga 2 for Darmstadt. 'He has also played for teams like Aberdeen and Stade de Reims.' And Stephen Mulhern, Dumbarton, said: 'I wonder if the Udinese management have their thinking cap on when potentially making a move for Ross McCrorie for the sake of Lennon Miller settling in, it would be an excellent piece of business. 'Having a familiar voice in the dressing room can only help in his development for Udinese and his Scotland career in the future.'
