UEFA open the door to play-offs

PLAY-OFFS could decide Champions League and Europa League qualification in countries across Europe should domestic leagues be cut short, UEFA have said.

The executive committee of European football’s governing body have set out guidelines for member associations on how qualification for the 2020-21 continental competitions could be determined in those leagues unable to play the 2019-20 season to a finish.

If competitions cannot be completed in full, then the next option should be to restart “with a different format in a manner which would still facilitate clubs to qualify on sporting merit”.

Associations will be left to decide on an appropriate format, but it could mean the introduction of mini-leagues or play-offs featuring teams in the mix for Champions League or Europa League qualification.

Competitions which cannot restart at all must provide “legitimate” grounds for doing so. In those circumstances, clubs must decide their European qualifiers.

UEFA’S guidelines also appear to place decisions on qualification via domestic cups in the hands of associations, though it is unclear how this could be fairly decided without playing the remaining ties.

Meanwhile, the Diamond League has announced plans to stage an athletics exhibition event in Oslo in June.

The ‘Impossible Games’ will be a behind-closed-doors meet on June 11, in line with the Norwegian government’s coronavirus restrictions.