UEFA has finally announced when Rangers will play St. Joseph’s of Gibraltar in the Europa League first qualifying round, leaving Rangers fans raging.
The first leg will take place in Gibraltar in just four days time on the 9th of July as UEFA look to avoid a fixture clash with Europa FC who will take on Polish side Legia Warsaw on the 11th. This announcement leaves Rangers fans up in arms as they have just four days to figure how to get to Gibraltar, where to stay on the island and for the supporters who are unable to make the game the kick-off time of 1655 UK time is far from ideal.
✈️ DATE CONFIRMED: #RangersFC will play St Joseph's in a Europa League first round qualifier on Tuesday, July 9 with a 5.55pm kick-off local time (4.55pm UK time).
➡️ Read more: https://t.co/tPCIszSXvi pic.twitter.com/VJRt8ROzdm
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) July 5, 2019
It also brings into question the friendly that Steven Gerrard’s men will play against League One side Oxford United tomorrow at Ibrox with concerns that the game is too close to an important qualifier. It might mean Rangers will have to rotate their squad heavily rather than use the game as proper preparation for the match against St. Joseph’s on Tuesday. Gerrard will be wary to not risk his players just 72 hours before a European game in a pre-season match but he must be frustrated that the game comes so soon after a meaningless friendly.
If Gerrard is potentially unhappy at the brought forward kick-off time then these Rangers fans are certainly fuming at UEFA’s decision to the play the match two days ahead of schedule.
Logistical nightmare announcing this 2 working days before the game.
Nice one @EuropaLeague @UEFA ????
— Karlarl (@Karlarl184) July 5, 2019
Shambles
— ???????? (@RossAC2000) July 5, 2019
4 days to arrange flights & hope to get a ticket in such a small ground is a complete joke. i blame uefa for that, not the clubs. this could of been sorted days ago but as usual the fans are an afterthought.
— Gary (@MrGaryValentine) July 5, 2019
Kicking off when most of us are still in work. Shambles.
— Richy ???? (@RJB__29) July 5, 2019
this late in the game for confirmation is down to @EuropaLeague not fixing the playing days for the 2 teams from Gibraltar early doors
— Alan Douglas (@ADouglas_1981) July 5, 2019
Ive got 10 mins to get home from work ????
— Sir Walter Smith (@Im_oot_Ma_EBTs) July 5, 2019
Oxford game waste of time now.
— Ian Meechan (@meechan45) July 5, 2019
— Dálcio Loyal (@DalcioLoyal) July 5, 2019