The release of the SPFL post-split fixtures has sparked a predictable uproar. Celtic finds itself at the center of the controversy once again, even though the club has absolutely no control over the scheduling process. Rangers legend Ally McCoist has been loudly voicing his frustrations by suggesting the defending champions are being handed an unfair advantage. However, the broader reality paints a very different picture.
When the schedule was announced, it was confirmed that Celtic would host Hearts on the final day of the season. This specific detail immediately caught the attention of those closely following the title race. McCoist launched into a bitter tirade, claiming that Celtic essentially runs Scottish football. He pointed to their home advantage and questioned the integrity of the upcoming fixtures.
Former Scotland international Kevin Gallagher completely rejected these notions. The entire argument from McCoist rests on the false premise that Celtic has been given special treatment. In truth, the post-split structure ensures every team finishes with an equal number of home and away games. The sequence of these matches is dictated purely by the games that have already been played. Any perceived imbalance is simply a mathematical result rather than intentional bias.
Gallagher specifically targeted the wild theories surrounding that final day clash with Hearts. Some Rangers fans have voiced fears that if Celtic drops out of the title race, they might intentionally lose to Hearts just to stop their Glasgow rivals from lifting the trophy. Gallacher dismissed the idea that any professional team would approach a game without total commitment.
To prove his point, Gallagher recalled a similar situation during his time at Blackburn Rovers during the 1994 and 1995 season. Blackburn was fighting Manchester United for the Premier League title and faced Liverpool at Anfield on the final day. Because Blackburn was managed by Liverpool icon Kenny Dalglish, fans and pundits widely assumed Liverpool would simply let them win to spite Manchester United. Instead, Liverpool fought hard and defeated Blackburn 2 to 1. Gallacher noted that Blackburn only won the league that day because West Ham managed a draw against Sir Alex Ferguson’s side in a parallel fixture.
Gallagher emphasized that professional pride always takes over when players step onto the pitch. He added that widespread accusations of teams rolling over only motivate professionals to play harder and prove the conspiracy theorists wrong. Ultimately, the outrage over the scheduling stems more from deeply rooted paranoia than any actual understanding of how professional football works.