Scrapped: SPFL Confirm Big Changes Ahead of 24/25 Season

Scrapped: SPFL Confirm Big Changes Ahead of 24/25 Season

In a landmark move for Scottish football, the SPFL has confirmed the abolition of the winter break beginning with the 2024/25 season.

This change is part of a larger strategy to fit the increased structure of European tournaments, which will now see group stages extended until the end of January.

The upcoming season will see a significant adjustment in the UEFA club competition calendar, with six to ten matchdays added during the league phase.

This expansion needs a rethinking of the domestic schedule to ensure Scottish clubs can meet their European obligations without jeopardizing the integrity of the national leagues.

The Premiership, Championship, League 1, and League 2 are all scheduled to begin on the first weekend of August, with the Premiership culminating in May and the lower divisions beginning slightly earlier to allow for playoffs.

The change represents a departure from the typical mid-season break, highlighting the increasing demands of the international football schedule on domestic leagues.

The lack of a winter break is expected to test the resilience of clubs and players, presenting a continuous competitive run during the winter months.

This adjustment reflects the SPFL’s dedication to synchronizing with the larger European football scene, despite the constraints given by domestic scheduling and conventional fixtures.

Furthermore, the Viaplay Cup’s group stage will begin in mid-July, with the quarter-finals scheduled for weekend matches to accommodate the busy schedule in the second half of the year.

Dates for the SPFL Trust Trophy will be revealed in due course, with the full league season fixtures scheduled to be released by the end of June, giving clubs and fans certainty on the road ahead in these changing times for Scottish football.

In past years, Celtic used the winter break to reintegrate their players. Rodgers had taken the team to Dubai three times during his first stint in command. The manager elected not to do that this year but instead gave the players personal time off. There will be no place for that luxury next season.

SEASON 2024/25 – KEY DATES

PREMIERSHIP

Fixture round 1
Weekend of August 3/4, 2024

Fixture round 33
Weekend of April 12/13, 2025

Fixture round 38
Weekend of May 17/18, 2025

Premiership play-off final
Thursday May 22 & Sunday May 25, 2025

CHAMPIONSHIP

Fixture round 1
Weekend of August 2/3, 2024

Fixture round 36
Friday May 2, 2025

LEAGUE 1 & LEAGUE 2

Fixture round 1
Saturday August 3, 2024

Fixture round 36
Saturday May 3, 2025

VIAPLAY CUP

Group stage
MD1: Weekend of July 13/14, 2024
MD2: Midweek of July 16/17, 2024
MD3: Weekend of July 20/21, 2024
MD4: Midweek of July 23/24, 2024
MD5: Weekend of July 27/28, 2024

Second round
Weekend of August 17/18, 2024

Quarter-finals
Weekend of September 21/22, 2024

Semi-finals
Weekend of November 2/3, 2024

Final
Sunday December 15, 2024

Get more related news on https://dailysportnews.co.uk