August 13 – UEFA has handed Northern Ireland’s Linfield a bye into the first qualifying round of the Champions League after their tie with Kosovan side Drita had to be called off on Tuesday due to positive coronavirus tests.
The game, due to be held in Nyon, was postponed after a second player from Drita tested positive, prompting the Swiss authorities to quarantine the entire team.
Competition rules indicated that clubs concerned would be deemed responsible for failure to fulfil fixtures and the matter was referred to UEFA’s Control and Disciplinary Body
On Wednesday, Europe’s governing body issued a statement to confirm that in line with their regulations Drita will forfeit the tie. UEFA’s guidelines, which were approved by the confederation’s executive committee, state that any club “whose national/local authorities have imposed restrictions preventing the match from taking place as scheduled will be held responsible and the match will be … forfeited by such club, which will be considered to have lost it 3-0”.
The Irish Premiership champions had qualified for Tuesday’s tie by beating San Marino champions Tre Fiori 2-0 in Nyon on Saturday. They will face Legia Warsaw from Poland in the next round.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1713875939labto1713875939ofdlr1713875939owedi1713875939sni@o1713875939fni1713875939