Europa League results mean Scotland will lose
one of its two Champions League places from the 2011-12
season.
Good results for Anderlecht and Standard Liege mean that Belgium
has leapfrogged Scotland into 15th position in Uefa's co-efficient
ranking table.
Standard beat Red Bull Salzburg, while Anderlecht drew with
Athletic Bilbao.
Falling to 16th place also means that the 2010-11 SPL champions
face three qualifying rounds to qualify for the lucrative Champions
League group stage.
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But Champions league restructuring means the qualifying matches
will be against champions from smaller European nations rather than
runners-up or third- and fourth-placed sides from larger
countries.
However, in a week where the publication of Old Firm financial
figures laid bare the importance of Champions League qualification
to both clubs, the loss of a place in Europe's premier club
competition is a potential major blow.
Next season, both the SPL winners and runners-up are expected to
enter the Champions League at the third qualifying round, with a
further play-off round to be negotiated before the group stage.
An SPL spokesman said: "Our clubs are sorted for next
season.
"It's for the season after that that Belgium are now above
us."
bbc