Russia suspension gives Celtic and Rangers Champions League lift as title winners' automatic spot sealed

An automatic Champions League place has been guaranteed for next season’s Scottish Premiership winner following Russia's FIFA suspension.

The 2022-23 champions will be awarded a place in the group stage of Europe's premier competition following punishments handed out by UEFA and world football’s governing body.

Scotland could have only been overtaken by Russia and Serbia in the top 10 of coefficient points, but everything has changed following the sickening invasion of the Ukraine.

Now Rangers and Celtic, who are battling it out for an almost certain bumper group stage payday this term, are in line for another.

There are 24 direct qualification places for the Champions League proper: the league winners from the top 10 countries by coefficient, the runners-up from the nations ranked one to six, and the third and fourth teams from Europe's top four leagues.

A further two places are reserved for the winners of the Champions League and the Europa League, unless they've already qualified in which case the place goes to the champions from the 11th ranked nation for the former, and the third place from the fifth ranked for the latter.

As it stands, Scotland are in ninth spot in the European rankings with a points tally of 34.900.

Rangers can still add to that tally this season if they continue their Europa League surge beyond the last 16.

Russia sit in 10th spot on 34.482 but will be unable to add to their tally with Spartak Moscow dumped out of the same competition following the Ukraine invasion.

Russia's national football team have been suspended from all competitions by FIFA and UEFA.

Serbia are the other nations who look set to benefit from the ruling, as they sit in 11th with 32.875 coefficient points.

Serbian teams