Old Firm hold hands up in fixture list foul-up

AS the Scottish Premier League stood firmly behind their decision to schedule the rearranged Old Firm match at Parkhead for February 23, when a number of players may be missing from both teams because of international friendlies, both clubs admitted that they had been consulted and accepted the argument for that date.

Rangers director-secretary Campbell Ogilvie made it clear that he took his share of the blame for the situation that could see the game rescheduled once again. ''I have to hold my hand up and be counted,'' he said, ''because we were consulted and the fixture position was so complex for us that we agreed that this was the date worth choosing. Of course, now I would say we probably should have picked another date, but you have to understand just how difficult the fixture congestion is becoming.''

Celtic would make no official comment, but I understand that the club readily acknowledges that it was party to the agreement on the proposed date, and is standing by that but if the situation develops where international players are taken way, that could change.

Ogilvie also dismissed suggestions that Rangers would be asking for a change immediately. ''I will be discussing the matter with Dick Advocaat next week, and a lot will depend on what he sees as happening with players who could be on international duty.

''The position is complicated for us because we have three rearranged matches in February, with another postponement to come as the league game with Dundee United, who are due to meet us on the twelfth, will have to be put off because they are in a League Cup semi-final.

''When we look at March, we find that there are TV Sunday games which, if the Old Firm match was scheduled then, could mean one of the teams having an extra day's break before the game. There are also Scottish Cup ties when the following midweek has to be left clear for replays. It was maybe not an ideal idea to schedule the Parkhead game for February 23, but it is a difficult and complex problem.

''We could have ignored the international friendly date and then discovered that there were no players from our teams involved. Most of the internationals have been arranged since the new date was proposed. You have to remember that we are working with UEFA international dates. There are also other national dates that bring in America and Australia which involve players from both teams.

The controversy arose when it was discovered that the February 23 date with internationals, which could mean a host of players from both teams being absent on that night. Under FIFA rules they are entitled to be called up.

In Rangers' case, Claudio Reyna was virtually certain to be on duty for the US team in that week, but the chances are that Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Arthur Numan will be wanted by Holland, who are due to meet Germany on the same evening.

The odds are on that the new man who will be on the Ibrox block by then, #1.3m buy Kerimoglu Tugay, will be wanted by Turkey on that date if they go on with their proposed match with Norway in Oslo.

That same game could see Celtic's Vidar Riseth called on by the Norwegians, while the Parkhead side may lose Eyal Berkovic if Israel's new man-ager, Richard Moller Nielsen, insists on having him for his first game in charge against Russia in Tel Aviv.

Add to that the possibility of Sweden taking Johan Mjallby to Italy.

Bearing in mind that under SPL rules either side is entitled to ask for a postponement if three or more players are called up for international duty, and it is not difficult to see that the prospects of this Old Firm match taking place on February 23 date are slim.

However, Ogilvie pointed out that the number of players who would be removed from the clubs is not yet settled, and it is only right to wait until the picture does become clear. ''We have to accept that the SPL are the clubs, and it would be wrong to suggest that we were not told of the situation.''

Reacting to the controversy over their decision to schedule the head-to-head collision between the Glasgow clubs for February 23, a spokesman for the SPL issued this statement: ''In trying to find a suitable date for the next Old Firm match, we have taken account of the desire to have no midweek matches prior to Scottish Cup fixtures and the need to keep the following 10 days, i.e. two midweeks, free for possible replays.

''In addition, we have undertaken to play the last Old Firm match as early in the season as possible to minimise the possibility of it being billed a 'championship decider' with all the issues this might raise.

''In deciding the date, in conjunction with Celtic and Rangers, we took into account the possibility some players may be called up by their countries.

''Given this wide range of factors, the date of February 23, agreed with the clubs, stands at present. However, either club may request that the fixture be postponed.

''If this occurs, we will obviously look for an alternative date in the crowded fixture calendar, but at this time, we have received no such approach.''

Celtic's midfielder Stilian Petrov emerged as the latest possible absentee as it appears he may now be required for a

four-team tournament in South America next month.

Coach Dmitar Dmitrov has quit to take over at Levski Sofia, and the Bulgarian FA will announce his successor at a meeting on January 17, which means that Petrov faces a nervous wait to discover if he will miss four major club fixtures, including the Old Firm game.

The new coach's first task will be to name a 24-man party for the event at which Australia and Slovakia also will take part.

Ironically, Scots-based Aussie trio Tony Vidmar and Craig Moore of Rangers and Mark Viduka of Celtic have already been told they can opt out of the Australian squad for the same tournament, but Petrov will have to wait to see if he is also excused.