The SPFL face a fixture headache over Rangers’ outstanding game against St Johnstone if the Ibrox side reach the Europa League quarter finals.
Steven Gerrard’s side were due to play the Perth men in the league in November but had to postpone it due to a clash with their Betfred Cup semi-final.
And league chiefs are now sweating over a potential dilemma as there will be NO available midweek dates before the split if the Light Blues progress through the next two rounds in Europe.
Celtic’s Premiership trip to Tynecastle was also cancelled that weekend after they reached the League Cup last four but the Hoops played Hearts in mid-December.
Gerrard’s men were unable to play that midweek as they already had a Friday night trip to Easter Road after their weekend clash with Hibs was brought forward 24 hours for TV.
And the scheduling situation could get worse with both clubs already facing rearranged league games in a jam-packed fixture list from the weekend of their Betfred Cup final showdown at Hampden.
Rangers are due to host Ross County at Ibrox on January 29 with Neil Lennon’s Hoops travelling to Perth the same evening to take on St Johnstone.
However, if the Staggies are held to a draw or their Scottish Cup fourth round tie against Ayr United is postponed this weekend then the replay or rearranged tie is scheduled to take place that midweek.
The same applies to Celtic’s clash with Partick Thistle at Firhill as the Scottish Cup takes precedence over the league and new dates would have to be found for the games.
It will also be the case for future Scottish Cup rounds with league games scheduled to take place on cup replay and rearranged dates.
And it could prove hugely problematic for the SPFL if the Rangers and Celtic continue to progress in Europe and the Scottish Cup ahead of the split on April 4.
Both sides are strong favourites to progress in their Europa League last-32 ties against Braga and Copenhagen respectively with the round of 16 games taking place on March 12 and 19 and quarter finals on April 9 and 16.
The lack of available dates is one of the main reasons the SPFL can’t entertain the idea of postponing the entire Scottish Premiership fixture card ahead of Scotland’s huge Euro 2020 play-off semi-final against Israel on March 26.
