Concern over Olympic clash with Scottish football season

CONCERNS have been raised about a threat to Scottish football matches at the start of next season due to Olympic football matches being held at Hampden Park.

The Olympic Charter stipulates that no other major sporting events can take place in any city hosting an Olympic events for the duration of the Games.

Hampden Park is scheduled to host eight Olympic football matches in the men's and women's events between 25 July and 12 August next year. The Scottish football season traditionally gets under way during this period. Only twice in the last ten years has the league season started on a later date than 12 August and, even then, qualifying rounds for European tournaments featuring Scottish clubs had already kicked off.

Now SNP MSP and former Sports Minister Stewart Maxwell has written letters to the Scottish Premier League and the British Olympic Association requesting "immediate clarity" over the prospect that next season's SPL season could be delayed due to Olympic events in Glasgow.

"Supporters of all clubs were excited and ambitious over the weekend as the new football season got under way and excitement is also building ahead of the Olympics next year, but questions still remain on what will happen when the two clash in 2012," said Maxwell.

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"Despite the issue being raised several months ago, supporters are still unclear as to what effect Olympic competition will have on their clubs and the British Olympic Association need to clarify immediately what their position is on other sporting events taking place during the period of the 2012 Olympics.

"I have written to both the SPL and the BOA seeking immediate clarity, and will also be raising the issue with Uefa as this stipulation in the Olympic Charter could seriously impact on Scottish participation in continental competition next year."

The issue was addressed in March by Lord Sebastian Coe, chairman of the 2012 Organising Committee. On a visit to Hampden, he said "discussions are ongoing". However, what have been described as "informal discussions" have so far failed to reveal whether the BOA, or anyone else, has a concern about a potential clash of programmes.

A spokesman for the BOA last night said that the issue had been passed from them to the International Olympic Committee. It is not just in Glasgow where a problem could arise. As well as London, Olympic events are also due to take place in Manchester, Newcastle, and Cardiff.

The SPL last night welcomed Maxwell's comments and confirmed that they had received his letter. "The start date for the 2012/13 Clydesdale Bank Premier League season will be fixed towards end of 2011," said a statement.

"If the British Olympic Association has any concerns regarding fixture scheduling these should be discussed with the SPL."