Celtic celebrate nine in a row despite anticlimactic end to Scottish season

Celtic's grip on Scottish football remains unbreakable after a ninth consecutive league title was confirmed even though they have not kicked a ball for two months.

Nine in a row is a landmark staging post in Scottish football. Only twice has it been achieved before, once on either side of the Glasgow divide -- by Celtic and Rangers.

But Celtic's feat in matching those historic achievements feels like an anti-climax after the coronavirus lockdown deprived them of the chance to win it on the pitch.

"They are the ones who have lost out the most in terms of the opportunity to play in front of the supporters, going for nine in a row," said Celtic manager Neil Lennon of his players.

"I feel so sorry for them." Scottish league chiefs on Monday declared the season over, drawing a line under a bitter squabble over how to finish the campaign.

Rangers failed to gain sufficient support among the other 41 league clubs for an independent inquiry into the controversial vote that allowed the season to be called on a points-per-game basis.

Many clubs were unhappy at the Scottish Professional Football League's insistence that the final instalment of prize money worth ?7 million ($8.5 million) could only be distributed once the leagues were declared over.

But as the shutdown stretched into its third month, there has also been a growing acceptance that the season could not be completed on the pitch.

- Worthy champions? -
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