Rangers face Benfica with unusual kick off time as multiple reasons show why UEFA is king

Rangers’ fans are used to the glimmering European lights, illuminating Ibrox for kick off for their European matches.

This time around they might not need them. Rangers' second leg in the Europa League round of 16 will kick-off at 5:45pm this Thursday. European games at Ibrox have traditionally kicked off at 8pm, but this time round they will have to make way for the ‘A’ side of Britain. At least that’s how TNT Sports views it. Rangers are one of five British teams playing at home in Europe this Thursday.

In the UEL they are joined by, West Ham, Brighton, Liverpool and Aston Villa in the UECL. Villa, Brighton and Liverpool take the 8pm slots leaving West Ham and Rangers with the tea-time kick-off. Rangers’ opponents, Benfica, have also been shunned. Much like Glasgow, Lisbon is a team of two cities and Sporting will play Atalanta in Bergamo at 8pm. A slight to the Benfica supporters as it seems they are not the ‘A’ side in Lisbon.

An early kick-off has also created some discontent among the Rangers support as there are a few obstacles in the way of arriving on time for kick-off. There’s the rush hour traffic and the prospect of an excruciating gridlock on the motorway to the game.

Then there’s the final race at Cheltenham which begins at 5.30pm leaving horse racing mad Rangers’ supporters in a race to their seat. And the timing of the game will surely affect the working day, leaving very little time to make the match. The Ibrox side expressed their disappointment at the time set but as their city rivals Celtic know all to well form their 3.30pm kick off against Ferencvaros, UEFA is king.

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