By Andrew Warshaw
April 23 – UEFA has officially acknowledged that domestic leagues may not be able to finish this season if governments prevent them, but if that’s the case has urged leagues to ensure their qualifying clubs for its two competitions next season are selected on proper sporting merit.
Following three days of meetings with key stakeholders UEFA said it would allow each country to determine the final places for Champions League and Europa League qualification but not on an ad hoc or co-efficient basis.
And it warned it could bar clubs from entering Europe if they are from a “prematurely terminated domestic competition” or if “there is a public perception of unfairness” in the selection process.
If the season is unable to finish, UEFA is effectively leaving it to each league to determine what exactly sporting merit means. One interpretation might be points per game, perhaps allied to play-offs if necessary. What is clear is that European football’s governing body will not permit entry to its competitions from leagues that have ‘voided’ their seasons unless under exceptional circumstances.
“If the season is unable to finish, each league must determine how ‘sporting merit’ is interpreted and it must be approved by their association,” UEFA said.
“The procedure for selecting clubs should be based on objective, transparent and non-discriminatory principles. National Associations and Leagues, should otherwise have the ability to decide the final positions in their domestic competitions, having regard to the specific circumstances of each competition.
“The final determination of eligible places for the UEFA club competitions should be confirmed by the relevant competent bodies at domestic level.”
Unexpectedly perhaps UEFA did not lay down any specific dates or time frame for the climax of its two competitions which reached the last-16 stage when football was cut short because of Covid-19. But August is widely being seen as when they would resume, all being well.
UEFA accepted that “insurmountable economic problems” could make finishing seasons “impossible because it would put at risk the long-term financial stability of the domestic competition and/or clubs.” Otherwise, it outlined two possible scenarios for finishing the season, one envisaging domestic football running in parallel with European games, the other to complete domestic matches before re-starting European matches in August.
“The ideal scenario, should the pandemic situation permit it, is to have the currently suspended domestic competitions completed enabling football clubs to qualify for UEFA club competitions on sporting merit in their original format,” said UEFA.
“Should this outcome not be possible, in particular due to calendar issues, it would be preferable that suspended domestic competitions would restart with a different format in a manner which would still facilitate clubs to qualify on sporting merit.”
Amidst all the uncertainty, one thing remains clear: UEFA still wantS the leagues to ty and finish their seasons even though Belgium and, almost certainly, the Netherlands have already made it known they won’t be.
“UEFA urges National Associations and Leagues to explore all possible options to play all top domestic competitions giving access to UEFA club competitions to their natural conclusion,” UEFA said.
“However, UEFA stresses that the health of players, spectators and all those involved in football as well as the public at large must remain the primary concern at this time. “
Only two only legitimate reasons would be accepted, UEFA said, for not completing the current campaign.
The first is “existence of an official order prohibiting sports events so that the domestic competitions cannot be completed before a date that would make it possible to complete the current season in good time before the next season to start.”
The second is “insurmountable economic problems which make finishing the season impossible because it would put at risk the long-term financial stability of the domestic competition and/or clubs.”
Interestingly the next meeting of the Executive Committee is scheduled for May 27 by which time UEFA should have a better idea over which countries can finish their domestic campaigns, and when.
UEFA releases €70m early for hard-hit clubs
Meanwhile UEFA has taken emergency measures to try to tackle the financial hardship on clubs by the sport being closed down by agreeing to release nearly €70 million of compensation payments several weeks ahead of schedule.
UEFA rewards clubs who have contributed players to national teams during the qualification process for the European Championships. Payments were due to be made after the completion of the qualification playoffs for Euro 2020, originally scheduled for March before being postponed.
UEFA have moved fast, however, to ensure the cash is sent to clubs quicker to ease the financial pressure on those that have seen revenues dry up.
The governing body announced that €50 million will be given to clubs who released players for the 39 national teams not involved in the play-offs. A further €17.7 million will be given to clubs that released players during regular qualifying to the 16 countries which will take part in the play-offs, while €2.7 million will be distributed upon completion of the matches in the autumn in respect of players being released to play in the play-off matches themselves.
The payments will range from €3,200 up to €630,000 and will benefit 676 clubs in total across all UEFA’s 55 member countries.
“In these difficult times when many clubs are facing financial issues, especially with their cash flow, it was our duty to make sure that clubs receive these payments as quickly as possible,” said UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin.
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