Celtic have been warned that if they try and skirt UEFA’s Pro Licence rules with Ange Postecoglou then they could have the book thrown at him.
The Australian is thought to be close to becoming the Hoops’ new boss but doesn’t hold the relevant UEFA coaching badges and is yet to start working towards the highest ranked course.
If he does the latter then he’s cleared to take charge for Scottish Premiership fixtures and it’s understood that Celtic have applied for dispensation.
But when it comes to European matches, then it’s a whole different ball game.
Filippo Giovagnoli found that out to his cost while in charge of League of Ireland side Dundalk.
The Italian wasn’t cleared to even be in the stadium when his club took on Rapid Vienna and Arsenal in last season’s Europa League, and they were hit with a £50,000 fine for “shadow coaching.”
Analyst Shane Keegan had the necessary qualifications and was installed as “manager” with Giovagnoli as “assistant” although it was the latter calling the shots.
They didn’t fool the European governing body however and the club paid the price.
And Giovagnoli has warned Celtic not to try the same with Postecoglou if they appoint him.
He todl the Daily Record: “Ange can’t be on the bench for the Champions League unless he gets special dispensation - but how can they do that when I was banned?
“Trust me, it would be a disaster if he doesn’t have his Pro Licence. After the precedent they set with me they can’t let it happen.
“Dundalk were fined because of me so people would ask why they didn’t fine Celtic so it can’t happen.
“I was banned by UEFA so right now if I was in charge of a team in the Europa League I couldn’t even enter the stadium. That’s how strict they are.
“You can be smart in the league and try and get round it but in UEFA competition you can’t do s***.
“If you are trying to get round it then you have an assistant coach with the Pro Licence who will do all the media and you are there just to coach.
“But trust me it’s not ideal and that’s why I left Dundalk because I lost all control and couldn’t communicate through the media.
“That is why I left the job. I have to be honest with you. I’m not a coach who can watch from the stand. I have to be on the sidelines.
“I thought I could do it and it wouldn’t matter. I believed I could train all week and prepare the team and everything would be okay.
“But that is just bull****. You can’t do it. Trust me. You have to be in control.
“Ange will have to find a course and apply. The thing that made it worse for me is that I wanted to do the Pro Licence but I couldn’t do the course because of the pandemic.
“I tried for seven months but couldn’t find one but there’s one in Italy I’m going to apply to.
“I think for most domestic leagues it’s at their own discretion whether a Pro Licence is required but in European competition if you don’t have it then you can forget it.
“In Ireland I could go on the bench but then my club decided against it after the UEFA fine. They felt pressure from UEFA and eventually I had to quit.
“I was able to coach from the bench but after the fine the club started saying I was the assistant rather than the head coach to avoid problems with UEFA.
“The whole thing was a mess and I couldn’t even take the press conferences so I just left.”
