UEFA have announced a raft of measures for the Champions League qualifiers that cover every possible scenario to overcome the global pandemic.
Travel restrictions across Europe has already reduced the first three qualifying rounds to one off matches but today a range of measures have been brough in to deal with testing and quarantine.
Every UEFA nation has different travel restrictions with the governing body taking control to decide ties in the event that quarantine rules prevent any matches from being played.
Equally a tie can be forfeited if a Government restricts travel, preventing a match from being played.
Qualifying through four rounds is often described as a lottery but that term applies more than ever with one-off matches governed by travel rules for matches played behind Closed Doors.
Celtic will be seeded for each round that they take part in but after two successive failures this season’s qualification route looks as challenging as ever.
UEFA expert Moravcik 67 took a look at the changes on Twitter.
CLICK HERE for the UEFA breakdown in full
2. The clubs then have to confirm to UEFA that the list is accurate, or to provide an updated list. If they don’t UEFA will use their list.
If a club doesn’t inform UEFA of a restriction that then prevents a game going ahead the club that didn’t inform UEFA will forfeit the tie.
— Moravcik67 (@Moravcik67_) August 4, 2020
3. If restriction apply to the away team then the home team must propose an suitable alternative venue where the game can be played. This would likely be in a different country.
Failure to propose a suitable alternative venue would see the home team forfeit the match.
— Moravcik67 (@Moravcik67_) August 4, 2020
4. Similarly, if the away team is restricted by their own country from travelling to/from the game the home team must propose a suitable alternative venue – with UEFA having final say. If either team refuses to play at the alternative venue they will forfeit the match.
— Moravcik67 (@Moravcik67_) August 4, 2020
5. If clubs don’t provide accurate information about restrictions UEFA will take the final decision on the match venue. A club refusing to take part will forfeit.
The clubs can agree to play at a neutral venue, or at the home of the away team, but only with UEFA’s approval.
— Moravcik67 (@Moravcik67_) August 4, 2020
6. Here’s the kick in the nuts.
If after the deadline for clubs to provide updated info on restrictions a new restriction is imposed that prevents the game going ahead, the club whose nation has imposed the new restriction will forfeit the game.
— Moravcik67 (@Moravcik67_) August 4, 2020
7. If players/staff test positive, the game will go ahead as long as 13 players from Squad List A are available, i.e. not quarantined. If not enough players are available, the game can be rescheduled if new tests will allow the minimum 13 players to become available.
— Moravcik67 (@Moravcik67_) August 4, 2020
8. Deadlines to play rescheduled games
QR1 – 21/8 (2/3 days from original date)
QR2 – 11/9 (2 and half weeks)
QR3 – 18/9 (2/3 days)
PO – 25/9 & 1/10 (2/3 days)If the game can’t be rescheduled in time the team who can’t play has to forfeit the match.
— Moravcik67 (@Moravcik67_) August 4, 2020
9. If the qualifiers can’t be completed, UEFA will decide themselves who qualifies for the group stage.
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Could be a hell of a ride this year.
— Moravcik67 (@Moravcik67_) August 4, 2020
