Travel bans and Uefa forfeit

Uefa’s decision yesterday, that if a club cannot visit to play a Champions or Europa League qualification game due to travel restrictions, if must forfeit the tie, will force some harsh planning on Celtic.

Travellers from a specific nation could be prohibited from entering Scotland, while Celtic players could be quarantined if they travel to that country.  In this event, Celtic would probably have to base their European squad in a (relatively) safe European country until the ban was lifted or quarantine restrictions expire, or withdraw from the European competition.  Neither prospect is appealing.

The problem does not expire after the qualifiers; governments will remain edgy about spikes as they arise for months to come.

The consequences of the crisis for season 2019-20 were almost impossible to imagine as recently as February.  It feels optimistic that plans for season 2020-21 will go without a hitch.  Contingency plans should note we may need a larger than normal squad.  All rivalries aside, this is one season where it would be useful to have our domestic competitors involved in European football as often as we are.