Arsenal and Atletico Madrid would be the BIG winners if UEFA uses controversial coefficient system to decide next season’s Champions League places, while it would be DISASTER for Chelsea and Inter Milan… so, what are the alternatives?
UEFA’s 55 member nations are braced for showdown talks on Thursday over the best ways to conclude the football season amid the crisis, and the temperature is already rising.
With serious doubts over whether the remaining fixtures in several countries will even be completed amid lockdowns and high death tolls, a consensus somehow needs to be found.
Some members, are on the verge of cancelling the season, although that could have major legal implications. Belgium have already done so.
Arsenal could play in next season’s Champions League if UEFA accepted a controversial proposal to use their club coefficient to determine which teams qualify
Arsenal could play in next season’s Champions League if UEFA accepted a controversial proposal to use their club coefficient to determine which teams qualify
But it would be bad news for Leicester City, currently third in the Premier League, as the coefficient would place them in next season’s Europa League
But it would be bad news for Leicester City, currently third in the Premier League, as the coefficient would place them in next season’s Europa League
But others, like England and certainly Germany, where the Bundesliga could restart on May 9, are pushing forward on the assumption the season can and will be concluded.
Yet whatever happens, at some point a new season will have to start and that means deciding who qualifies for the Champions League and the Europa League in 2020-21.
was deciding each country’s participants based on the .
But with millions of pounds of Champions League cash at stake, those who miss out aren’t likely to be happy and a flurry of lawsuits could follow.
We take a closer look at the implications of this and some other potential methods to determine who plays in Europe next season.
THE COEFFICIENT PROPOSAL
This idea will be discussed between UEFA and the influential European Club Association on Wednesday ahead of Thursday’s executive committee meeting.
If leagues across Europe can’t be completed because of the Covid-19 pandemic, then spots in next season’s Champions League and Europa League will be allocated using UEFA’s coefficient.
This system takes into account clubs’ performance in Europe over the past five seasons and the further they progress, the more points clubs accrue.
Naturally, more points are awarded for success in the more prestigious Champions League than the Europa League.
UEFA needs to find an acceptable way for its member nations to conclude their seasons amid the Covid-19 pandemic but also determine European qualifiers for the 2020-21 campaign
UEFA needs to find an acceptable way for its member nations to conclude their seasons amid the Covid-19 pandemic but also determine European qualifiers for the 2020-21 campaign
The Premier League table as it stands – but this could be disregarded if UEFA opts to use their coefficient to determine European places for next season, rather than points won this season
The Premier League table as it stands – but this could be disregarded if UEFA opts to use their coefficient to determine European places for next season, rather than points won this season
But allocating next season’s participants along these lines would be incredibly controversial.
Take the current top four in the Premier League standings – Liverpool sit top, followed by Manchester City, Leicester City and Chelsea.
If Man City’s European ban is upheld, then the final Champions League spot would be given to the team in fifth, which is Manchester United.
But if UEFA’s coefficient is used, then England’s four Champions League qualifiers would be Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal. Or if City remain disqualified, Tottenham would be taking their place.