Frozen in time - UEFA hints at end of the road for this season's Champions and Europa Leagues

Keir Radnedge - AIPS Football delegate

LONDON, April 2nd, 2020 - European federation UEFA has swerved away from an official admission that this season’s two club competitions are null and void.

But that can be the only reasonable assumption from the published conclusions of a video conference among general secretaries of all 55 member associations. What was not said was more significant than what was.
The meeting reviewed early assessments of two working groups created in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and, understandably in the circumstances, was unable to envision a progressive route forward.

A priority of the national associations is seeking a route, one far-distant way or another, to conclude the domestic club schedules.
Hence the fate of the Champions League and Europa League did not even merit a mention in the official media statement.

INCOMPLETE Four Champions League second round ties remain uncompleted: Manchester City v Real Madrid, Juventus v Lyon, Barcelona v Napoli and Bayern Munich v Chelsea. The final had been due for Istanbul on May 30.
How UEFA unpicks the financial repercussions vis-a-vis broadcasters and sponsors is another matter entirely which is probably one of the reasons the issue was left hanging in the gloomy air.

The only positive/negative decisions concerned the indefinite postponement of all national team matches scheduled for June which includes play-off matches for Euro 2020 and qualifying matches for the 2021 Women’s Euro.

All other UEFA competition matches remain postponed until further notice which means the club competitions – and suggests that UEFA and its president, Aleksander Ceferin, are resigned to the impossibility of completing the Champions League and Europa League.

Certainly the entry deadlines for next season’s UEFA club competitions have been postponed until further notice.
As for the European youth tournaments. Cancellations have been registered for the final tournaments of the UEFA U-17s (set for May) and the Women’s U-19s (July).

Postponements have been listed for the final tournaments of the Women’s U-17s, scheduled for May and which is is a qualifying event for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup; for the U-19s, set for July and a qualifying event for the FIFA U-20 World Cup; and the UEFA Futsal Champions League finals (April).

UEFA’s executive committee has also indicated am understanding that financial fair play regulations will need reassessment, in the light of whatever state the leagues and clubs eventually emerge from the crisis.

OFFICIAL STATEMENT Following the video conference meeting with the general secretaries of all 55 UEFA member associations and recommendations made by the working groups created on 17 March, the UEFA Executive Committee took a series of decisions.
On competition matters:
  • All national team matches for men and women due to be played in June 2020 are postponed until further notice. This includes the play-off matches for UEFA EURO 2020 and qualifying matches for UEFA Women’s EURO 2021
  • All other UEFA competition matches, including the centralised international friendly matches, remain postponed until further notice.
  • Youth national team competitions:
    (i) the UEFA European Under-17 Championship final tournament scheduled for May 2020 is cancelled;
    (ii) the UEFA European Women’s Under-19 Championship final tournament scheduled for July 2020 is cancelled;
    (iii) the UEFA European Women’s Under-17 Championship final tournament scheduled for May 2020 is postponed until further notice (as it is a qualifying competition for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup);
    (iv) the UEFA European Under-19 Championship final tournament scheduled for July 2020 is postponed until further notice (as it is a qualifying competition for the FIFA U-20 World Cup)
  • The UEFA Futsal Champions League finals scheduled for April 2020 are postponed until further notice.
  • The deadlines related to all 2020/21 UEFA club competitions are postponed until further notice, in particular as regards the admission process and the registration of players. UEFA will set new deadlines in due course.
On club licensing and financial fair play matters:
The Executive Committee reiterated its full commitment to club licensing and Financial Fair Play and agreed that the current exceptional circumstances necessitate some specific interventions to facilitate the work of member associations and clubs.
It supports the proposal to give member associations more time to complete the club licensing process, until the admission process for next season’s UEFA club competitions has been redefined.
As a result of the increasing uncertainty generated by the ongoing extraordinary events, the Executive Committee also decided to suspend the club licensing provisions that relate to the preparation and assessment of clubs’ future financial information. This decision applies exclusively for participation in the 2020/21 UEFA club competitions.
 
cooprfc said:
So we can claim to be winners of it then obviously? That's how it works eh?
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From the first Qualifying Round away win against St Joseph's, to the Knockout Stage home defeat to Bayer Leverkusen, we've played 17 games, won 10, drawn 5 and lost 2.

That's a better record than any of the other 15 teams left in the competition.

If Celtic are 'given' the title based on their performances over an incomplete league programme then, by the same measure, we should be 'given' the Europa League trophy.

The difference between us is that, while they would shamelessly accept the 2019/20 title, add it to their spurious 9-in-a-row and take their place in next season's Champions League Qualifiers, neither Rangers FC nor the fans would be happy to accept such a token 'honour'.

EDIT: Drawn and Lost totals corrected.
 
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Split money between the remaining teams.

All teams automatically gain entry to Champions League regardless of country or league position.

Trophies have Void on the year 2019-2020. All remaining teams get a trophy to award being the last remaining teams in the competition.

Done.
 
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The prize money pot will be nothing like people predict.

Sponsors and TV broadcasters will have to be reimbursed if the rest of the competition doesnt go ahead.

As the big money games are the ones being cancelled I would be surprised if there's anything left in the pot.
 
johnkp said:
From the first Qualifying Round away win against St Joseph's, to the Knockout Stage home defeat to Bayer Leverkusen, we've played 17 games, won 10, drawn 4 and lost 3.

That's a better record than any of the other 15 teams left in the competition.

If Celtic are 'given' the title based on their performances over an incomplete league programme then, by the same measure, we should be 'given' the Europa League trophy.

The difference between us is that, while they would shamelessly accept the 2019/20 title, add it to their spurious 9-in-a-row and take their place in next season's Champions League Qualifiers, neither Rangers FC nor the fans would be happy to accept such a token 'honour'.
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Assuming I’ve lost the plot here, but other than young boys away and Leverkusen at home, which other game have we lost this season?
 
johnkp said:
From the first Qualifying Round away win against St Joseph's, to the Knockout Stage home defeat to Bayer Leverkusen, we've played 17 games, won 10, drawn 4 and lost 3.

That's a better record than any of the other 15 teams left in the competition.

If Celtic are 'given' the title based on their performances over an incomplete league programme then, by the same measure, we should be 'given' the Europa League trophy.

The difference between us is that, while they would shamelessly accept the 2019/20 title, add it to their spurious 9-in-a-row and take their place in next season's Champions League Qualifiers, neither Rangers FC nor the fans would be happy to accept such a token 'honour'.
Click to expand...

Not sure I would turn down direct entry to the group stages next year to be honest, that would also take their place away if it worked out like that. I’m sure the board would also happily accept the guaranteed £30 million, at least. I wouldn’t ever mention us winning it though and I doubt the board would add it to our honours, unlike them.
 
greggakd said:
Assuming I’ve lost the plot here, but other than young boys away and Leverkusen at home, which other game have we lost this season?
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Well spotted, greggakd. We've played 17 games, won 10, drawn 5 and lost 2. That's an even better record! Sorry about that.

GarMckin said:
Not sure I would turn down direct entry to the group stages next year to be honest, that would also take their place away if it worked out like that. I’m sure the board would also happily accept the guaranteed £30 million, at least. I wouldn’t ever mention us winning it though and I doubt the board would add it to our honours, unlike them.
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Put that way, GarMcKin, I'd snatch their hand off!
 
johnkp said:
From the first Qualifying Round away win against St Joseph's, to the Knockout Stage home defeat to Bayer Leverkusen, we've played 17 games, won 10, drawn 4 and lost 3.

That's a better record than any of the other 15 teams left in the competition.

If Celtic are 'given' the title based on their performances over an incomplete league programme then, by the same measure, we should be 'given' the Europa League trophy.

The difference between us is that, while they would shamelessly accept the 2019/20 title, add it to their spurious 9-in-a-row and take their place in next season's Champions League Qualifiers, neither Rangers FC nor the fans would be happy to accept such a token 'honour'.
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Good post, slight mistake with the games though. It’s 5 draws and 2 defeats
 
I still think they'll try and finish the competitions just to satisfy the sponsors/broadcasters. Even if they have to change the remaining 2 legged ties to be one off matches at neutral venues just to get it over the line. Possibly even overlapping with the new season while a condensed qualifying phase is on.
 
If that's the case we must be the only club to have played every available round of every competition we've played in this season. Good quiz question for years down the line.
 
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