Russian teams BANNED from Champions League and Europa League next season in boost for Celtic and Rangers

RUSSIAN sides have been banned from European competitions next season... in a boost to Scottish teams.

The ejection of Russian clubs is one of a number of penalties placed on the country by Uefa following the invasion of Ukraine.

Replacing Russia's automatic spot in the Champions League group stage will be the Scottish Premiership title winner.

Celtic effectively need just three points from their remaining three games to claim the league title, as well as a group stage place.

would join their bitter rivals in the group stage should they win the Europa League.

Even if they fail to triumph in the competition, however, they will be guaranteed Europa League group stage football at a minimum.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side would enter the Champions League in the third qualifying round.

Third-placed Hearts are also guaranteed group stage football.

The Jambos will enter the Europa League in the play-off round.

So even if Robbie Neilson's side were to lose, they would fall into the Europa Conference League group stage.

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Scotland's fourth place side, currently Dundee United, will enter the Europa Conference League in its third qualifying round.

While its fifth placed team, a position held by Ross County with three games remaining, will enter in the UEL's second qualifying round.

Motherwell are also in contention to finish in the European places, sitting a point behind Ross County.

Should Rangers win the Europa League, they would go into the Champions League group stage draw in Pot 1.

Celtic, meanwhile, will likely be in Pot 4.

EURO BID BAN

Russia have also been banned from bidding to host Euro 2028 - in a further boost for the FA-led British Isles bid.

Uefa’s ruling executive committee announced that Russia had been ruled ineligible to bid in one of a remarkable 12 major punishments against Moscow following the invasion of Ukraine.

And with Uefa President Aleksander Ceferin keen for the five nation bid to win it is likely that the last remaining rival, Turkey, will soon depart the field to allow confirmation of the tournament being played across the five British Isles nations.

In a statement, Nyon chiefs said: “The Uefa executive committee declared the bid submitted by the Football Union of Russia to host Euro 2028 or Euro 3032 as not eligible.

“Regulations state that each bidder shall ensure that it does not act in a manner that could bring Uefa or European football into disrepute.”

Uefa also cited the February 28 suspension of Russia by itself and Fifa to add: “Given the uncertainty as to when the suspension will be lifted, the acceptance of a bid would also go against that decision.”

The Fifa ban saw Russia kicked out of their scheduled World Cup semi-final play-off against Poland while club sides were booted out of European competitions.

Uefa added punishment by confirming Russia will not be allowed to play in this summer’s Nations League games and will be “automatically relegated in 16th place in league B”, while no Russia sides will be allowed to enter any European competition next year.

And Russia’s women’s team have now suffered a similar fate with Uefa declaring they will not be allowed to play in this summer’s Euros and instead be replaced by Portugal and have also been rejected from the qualification round for next year’s Women’s World Cup.

Similar bans will apply to youth and futsal tournaments run by Uefa.