Celtic’s hopes of being defaulted the SPL title took yet another blow today as it revealed UEFA will not award a league title to any team whose country still has a European participant.

Rangers, of course, are Scotland’s remaining representatives in the UEL, with a second leg v Bayer Leverkuson on indefinite ice, but Steven Gerrard’s men’s continuing survival in the later stages of the Europa League means due to logistical issues and payment structure, UEFA cannot end the season early as the SPFL would like.

Violation of this would also affect European participation, because even though a member nation is free to do what it wants and award a league, if UEFA do not endorse and agree the governing body will ban that nation from its lucrative competitions.

Look at the European ban meted to AC Milan this season for violating FFP rules, and City next – anyone can be banned at any level of power, so if an entire nation breaks the code given them by Nyon, that nation’s clubs are axed from Europe and possibly the nation itself from international competitions.

So, Scotland (and others) must obey.

And if UEFA say the season cannot be concluded early, then it can’t.

Sorry guys…