13 Oct 2009Celtic and Rangers could play in England, says FIFA

Football Clubs News | Football Leagues/ Association and Governance

FIFA has said that the notion of Celtic and Rangers playing league football in England is "theoretically possible".

A spokesperson for the sport's world governing body told Scotland on Sunday that Glasgow's Old Firm could move south of the border if they were granted approval by all the leagues and associations involved in the switch.

He pointed out that there several existing examples of clubs playing in leagues not governed by their own football association, such as FC Vaduz of Liechtenstein taking part in Switzerland's national league.

The issue of Celtic and Rangers leaving the Scottish Premier League to join the top flight in England resurfaced at last week's Leaders In Football conference, when the chief executives of both clubs said they envisaged heading south one day.

Writing in his blog for BBC Sport this week, Scottish football expert Jim Spence suggests that the departure of the Old Firm would have a positive impact on the game in Scotland.

"A new-found competitiveness could bring many fans back to watch a league which was no longer a two-horse race," he explains.

Written by Terry Mitchell

© Copyright