View: Rangers have nothing to fear over UEFA red tape thanks to Marathe foresight

Rangers are not at risk of missing out on a place in Europe next season despite the 49ers Enterprises’ links with Leeds United.

As was the case earlier this season with Crystal Palace, teams can be excluded from a competition due to UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules.

Due to John Textor’s links with Lyon and Crystal Palace, the latter dropped out of the Europa League and into the Conference League.

Irish club Drogheda and Slovakian team FC DAC 1904 were also punished under the rules last year.

But there does not appear to be any risk of that ever now happening at Rangers thanks to Paraag Marathe’s foresight.

Paraag Marathe puts enough distance between Rangers and Leeds

Marathe is on the board of Leeds and was previously Rangers’ vice-chairman, but he stepped down from that position in February.

This was due to a potential conflict that could arise. Although unlikely, it is not entirely out of the question that Leeds qualify for Europe one season soon.

In fact, they were only two games away from doing just that as they reached the FA Cup semi-finals, only to lose to Chelsea on Sunday.

Clubs had until 1 March to get their house in order, which is exactly what Marathe and the 49ers did.

While it is not an issue that will impact the Gers this season due to Leeds having so little chance of qualifying for Europe, it is a problem that may become more prominent down the line.

As per Dale Johnson for BBC Sport, there would also have been no risk of Rangers and Leeds being at the centre of a UEFA probe had the latter gone on to win the FA Cup.

Again, this was down to planning being put in place, which deserves praise.

Look at Palace, for example, a team that were caught out by making it to the Europa League by winning the FA Cup, with Textor’s Lyon links them preventing them from doing so.

Which European competition will Rangers be in next season?

Nobody is really thinking about this question right now, of course, with all focus on simply winning the Scottish Premiership title.

Rangers’ 3-2 loss at home to Motherwell on Sunday badly damaged those prospects and leaves Danny Rohl‘s men needing a perfect record to see out the season – plus helping hands.

The winners of the Scottish Premiership automatically reach the Champions League qualifying playoff round – the last round before the competition proper.

Second place enters at the second qualifying round, meanwhile, while third and fourth go into the Conference League second qualifying round.

As Rangers fans know only too well, the Europa League can provide a safety net of sorts if qualifying for the Champions League is unsuccessful.

Whatever European competition it may be, though, that can wait for now. All that truly matters over these next few weeks is finishing above Celtic and Hearts in top spot.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Govan.