hackwatching

european exploits - who's helping who?

It didn't come as much of a surprise to learn from Graeme Speirs' Herald sports diary that the paper's sports hacks had their annual Christmas bash at Ibrox, complete with hearty toasts to 'the Mighty Glasgow Rangers'.

Doubtless one of the most lusty participants in such a toast would have been Darryl Broadfoot, who if he doesn't already get invites to David Murray's private gatherings must be wondering what he has to do.

Broadfoot could barely contain himself the morning after the Rangers v Inter match, but there are a few points about his slavering praise of the Gers that really ought to be cleared up before they fester into facts. 'Rangers' historic procession to the last 16 of the Champions League,' he gushed, 'has virtually guaranteed Scotland's elevation to ninth place in UEFAÕs country rankings system next year - one place away from an extra UEFA Cup spot.'

Not quite Darryl. The country above Scotland in the rankings is Belgium, who are more than a point ahead of Scotland in the co-efficients. Although Anderlecht had a bit of a nightmare in the CL, FC Brugge are still in the UEFA Cup. Just ask the bookies who they think are most likely to add anything to their points tally this season; the Belgians or Dignity FC.

'The more immediate prospect of automatic entry to the group stages next season for the winners of the Bank of Scotland Premierleague is a qualification boon Rangers are highly unlikely to benefit from.'

The suggestion here is that Rangers' heroic seven points will help Celtic gain automatic entry into the Champions League next season should the Hoops win the league. In actual fact Celtic already have 59.858 co-efficient points thanks to our own previous exploits in Europe. Should Rangers confound expectations and get another win, a mere 0.66 points would be added to Celtic's total.

Sorry Darryl, but we'll be there on merit, not because of your beloved Rangers this season.

'Scotland lie 10th in UEFA's rankings, the coefficients of which are calculated over a five-year period. Under UEFA's guidelines, the champions of the top nine countries are guaranteed automatic entry into the group stages. However, if the winner of the competition next May also wins their domestic league, then Scotland's title holders will be elevated beyond the preliminary phase.'

Once again Broadfoot appears to be suggesting that Rangers' current European campaign will be of some benefit to Scotland's champions next year, which ignores the fact that automatic entries are worked out a year in advance.

'Celtic remain favourites for direct entry, while Rangers' best hope of performing in Europe's elite competition next season might be to emulate Liverpool's achievement and win the Champions League. That, even in a most befuddling season for Alex McLeish, is entering the realms of fantasy.'

A wee joke there from Darryl, but it's no doubt the kind of fantasy he indulges in for the same reason as other men ogle Pamela Anderson in Baywatch.

Alas, even if Loyalty FC win the Champions League it wouldn't make any difference. In 2004 UEFA changed the rules on co-efficients to award clubs 33% of national federation ranking points to help bigger clubs in smaller countries move up the rankings. Previously it had been 50%.

A good example is Rangers' next opponents Villareal who, despite not having much of a pedigree in European competition go straight into the top 50 because they received 50%of Spain's coefficient which was calculated on the successes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Deportivo.

It might be news to Darryl but the same effect benefited Rangers, mainly as a result of Celtic getting to the UEFA Cup final in 2003 and the quarter-finals of the same competition the following year.

Broadfoot puts it like this: 'Celtic's surge to the UEFA Cup final in 2003 was a significant help to the coefficient and now Rangers, whether under McLeish or a new manager, have the opportunity to further enhance Scotland's reputation and status in the eyes of UEFA.'

Celtic's exploits in Europe made the difference between Rangers being seeded and not seeded. Broadfoot neglects to mention any of this.

Whatever Rangers have done in Europe this season (and in terms of coefficient points it isn't much) can only benefit Celtic a tiny amount.

Celtic, on the other hand, have helped Rangers out in spades this season. You're welcome.