Celtic's Rodgers: Rigid TV Scheduling Hurts British Teams in Europe

Brendan Rodgers, the Celtic boss, expressed concerns regarding the rigid scheduling of televised matches affecting British teams in European competitions. Celtic is facing a challenging schedule, playing away against St Johnstone before quickly traveling to Germany for a Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund. Unlike Celtic, Dortmund has the advantage of an extra day to prepare due to their match being rescheduled. This lack of flexibility in scheduling has been a recurring issue for British teams, impacting their preparation and performance. Rodgers suggested that extending Friday night slots for top-flight league matches could provide better recovery time for clubs participating in European tournaments. He also mentioned that while some Scottish Championship games are televised on Fridays, the top league could benefit from similar arrangements. Additionally, he provided an update on player availability, noting that Cameron Carter-Vickers would miss the match against St Johnstone due to a foot issue, while Alistair Johnston is fit to play. The ongoing scheduling challenges highlight the need for better coordination between football federations and television networks to support teams in their European endeavors.