The SPFL are considering playing both of the Betfred Cup semi-finals on a Sunday – and moving one to Murrayfield – in a bid to avoid a row with the Old Firm.
Rangers boss Steven Gerrard insisted on Wednesday night it would not be ‘fair’ to ask either club to play on the scheduled Saturday date as both have a Thursday night Europa League fixture less than 48 hours before.
The Ibrox boss will face Aberdeen in the last four after brushing aside Ayr United, while Celtic and Hearts will meet after defeating St Johnstone and Motherwell respectively.
The SPFL are considering moving a the League Cup semi-final to Murrayfield on the Sunday
Those ties were scheduled at Hampden for the weekend of October 27/28, with both to be shown live on BT Sport.
With Rangers hosting Spartak Moscow and Celtic travelling to meet RB Leipzig in Germany on the preceding Thursday, a Saturday fixture would present serious issues for either Glasgow club in terms of their recovery time.
It is believed shifting one of the semi-finals to the home of Scottish rugby – playing both on the Sunday – is an option under active consideration by the SPFL.
Ibrox boss Gerrard admitted he would await developments with interest.
‘The way I understood it was the first tie out of the draw plays on Saturday?’, joked Gerrard, referring to Celtic being first out of the hat.
‘No, I haven’t been told that. I thought that was always the case?
The former Liverpool midfielder insisted it would be unfair for either side to play on Saturday
‘Listen, whoever has to do that, it’s not fair on any team, having played on the Thursday night. I’ll be interested to see the outcome, how they decide. All the best with that one.’
Asked if he would lodge a protest if scheduled to play on the Saturday, Gerrard added: ‘We’ll deal with that when we have to. I’m not sure how they will select who plays when or what the rules are.
‘Whoever has to do it, it won’t be fair as 48 hours isn’t enough.’
Celtic counterpart Brendan Rodgers insists he’ll leave the SPFL to sort out the mess, saying: ‘I think they will have to look at it now. It obviously presents a problem because there are midweek games the week after. I’ll let them sort that out.’
Gerrard is facing a striker dilemma for the semi-final after Alfredo Morelos was hit with a ban
Gerrard, meanwhile, is facing a striker dilemma for the semi-final tie after Alfredo Morelos was hit with a ban. The Colombian will sit out the Aberdeen game after a booking for dissent – his second yellow card of the Betfred Cup.
Morelos, who was on the scoresheet against Ayr, reacted to referee Bobby Madden after being floored by a challenge from Jamie Adams.
With Kyle Lafferty cup-tied, and Gerrard admitting he has not been impressed by loanee Umar Sadiq, the Ibrox boss will have to find a solution.
‘I can understand him getting frustrated as I thought it was a foul on him,’ said Gerrard of Morelos. ‘The ref said their player got the ball, but I disagree.
‘We’ll have to get the job done without a natural No 9 unless Sadiq comes to the party and improves an awful lot.’