Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
National
Mark Walker

Rangers' potential European opponents offered big-money bonus by Georgian millionaire

(Image: Shutterstock)

Georgian minnows Iberia 1999 have offered their players a bonus of £125,000 a man to beat Rangers or Jagiellonia Bialystok.

Rangers must overcome a 2-1 deficit on Thursday in the Europa League against the Polish side to go through to the play-offs. If they win, Rangers will face unknown Georgian outfit Iberia, who beat Northern Irish side Larne to make history.

Even if they lose and drop into the Europa Conference League, Iberia 1999 will be the first side from Georgia to qualify for the group stages since Dinamo Tbilisi managed it 22 years ago.

Their squad has already pocketed a bonus for that, but if they make the Europa League, each of their squad will receive a reported £125,000 by their rich owner, Tariel Khechikashvili, who changed the club's name from Saburtalo two years ago.


Read more


And captain Giorgi Jinjolava insists they fear no one in the next round. He said: "We had no experience playing in front of such a large crowd, but we did that here, and it was a famous night.

"I congratulate all of Georgia on this victory, because after a long break, a Georgian team will play in the group stage of the European tournament. We knew how important this game was to ourselves and to Georgian football.

"This is a special success, and it proves we have no fear of facing any club in any European competition."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.