Rangers and Celtic fixture fight as SPFL face major post-split decision in chase for £40m prize

Rangers and Celtic are set to be involved in a furious post-split fixtures fight in the race for the title as the SPFL are looking at a major headache.

And with a £40million jackpot on the line the pressure on the governing body will be massive.

All clubs are due to play 19 home games and 19 away matches – and post split they must play a minimum of two at home.

As things stand, Rangers are scheduled to be away to Celtic, Hearts, Motherwell and Hibs with an Ibrox clash against Dundee United.

Ryan Jack has a shot against Celtic (SNS Group)

It’s the reverse for Celtic would be at home against the Light Blues, the Jambos, the Steelmen and Shaun Maloney’s side – with a trip to Tannadice.

So right there, one of Rangers’ away games will have to reversed and similarly Celtic will lose a Parkhead fixture.

However, it gets worse for the SPFL if either Aberdeen or Livingston finish above United in sixth place.

Rangers will have played both sides at home twice – Celtic away twice.

So that means two of Rangers ‘away’ games would be switched and Celtic would lose two ‘home’ games.

The question is, which games will the governing body choose with the title winners virtually certain to go straight into the Champions League group stage and land that game-changing fortune?

There is no chance the beaks will schedule a third Old Firm game at Ibrox – and they almost certainly won’t mess with the Hearts fixtures either.

They are liable to look at teams five and six – i.e. Hibs and potentially Aberdeen or Livi.

So Rangers could get a third Ibrox visit from these sides and Celtic would have to go to Easter Road again and either Pittodrie or the Tony Macaroni – a place where they lost earlier in the season.

The SPFL recommendations state: “We generally aim for the fewest switches possible and try to avoid reversing fixtures that have a key impact on the league title, the race for Europe and the battle to avoid relegation.

“But this is not always possible. We avoid reversing the big city derby matches and also consider what has happened with the post-split fixtures in previous years.”

With this title race looking like it’s going to the wire, major decisions loom off the pitch as well.