DNIPRO BOSS: WE MAY GET EURO BYES
UKRAINIAN clubs may get a bye straight into the group stage of UEFA competitions next season, according to Dnipro boss Igor Jovicevic.
And that could have implications for Scotland’s coefficient standings with SPFL clubs facing an anxious wait to see how it may affect countries above
Ukraine in the standings. Ukraine’s league season was called early due to the Russian invasion. Shakhtar, who were top, and secondplaced Dinamo Kyiv are set to represent them in the Champions League.
Ukraine are 12th on the coefficient table, three points behind Scotland, so third-placed Dnipro go into the Europa League with Zorja and Vorskla in the Conference League.
But Jovicevic says UEFA are in talks over a proposal to grant them automatic qualification. It could give five Ukrainian clubs the chance to earn coefficient points and puts them back in the mix for the top-10 position that’s all-but secured Champions League for either Celtic or Rangers.
He said: “No one can play qualifiers in the war zone. It would be a big exception but with this concession UEFA would help our clubs survive this difficult period.”