Uefa may enter SPL row

Uefa could step in to sort out the promotion-relegation wrangle plaguing Scottish football.

European football's governing body has told BBC Scotland it wants the Scottish Football Association and the Scottish Premier League to resolve the issue.

But the matter looks certain to rumble on for weeks yet, with Partick Thistle threatening legal action if a second vote grants Inverness promotion.

A Uefa spokesman said: "We will help solve the problem if need be."

However, European football's governing body would have to be asked first before becoming involved.

Meanwhile, SPL executive chairman Lex Gold criticised SFA vice-chairman George Peat after he accused the SPL of bringing the game into disrepute.

Peat said the SPL's handling of the issue had reduced Scottish football to a laughing stock.

But Gold insisted Peat had been involved in a similar scenario last season.

"Mr Peat was a member of the committee that considered an appeal against the SPL last year when Falkirk sought to ground-share at Airdrie," he said.

"The SFA Appeal Committee found in favour of the SPL decision.

"The SFA have indicated that 23 and 24 June are possible dates on which the appeal by Inverness Caledonian Thistle against the decision taken by the SPL clubs in General Meeting on 1 June might be heard.

Inverness bid gathers pace

"It appears Mr Peat has sought to make a judgment in advance of that appeal, thereby seriously prejudicing his own position and potentially that of the SFA as the appeals body.

"I also understand that the SFA have distanced themselves from Mr Peat's comments.

"Mr Peat may have come to his judgment based upon comments in the press attributed to individuals, rather than the SPL acting as a corporate body. This seems less than prudent."

Peat had said on Thursday that the SFA could bring a disrepute charge against the SPL.

"The situation is becoming weirder and weirder and we don't think it can go on much longer," Peat told BBC Sport.

"It's a very serious charge (disrepute) and it has never been done with a body like a league before."

Individuals and clubs have been punished using the SFA's powers and Peat insists it would be possible to do the same to the SPL.

"We have authority over everybody in Scottish football," he continued.

"There is no meeting on the horizon at the moment, but how long can this go on?"