Distribution of seats in European competitions, renaming of Euro 2020 and early payments to clubs: what was discussed at the UEFA meeting

Season end

One of the most important issues of the meeting of the Executive Committee of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), held on Thursday by video link, was the replay of the current seasons in national championships and continental club tournaments. But if the resumption of the former is enough to abolish quarantine and permit mass events (even if the matches are held without spectators or with a small concentration of them), then for the latter it is necessary to open borders and restore air traffic between the countries. The likelihood of such a development of events at the moment does not seem so high, given the scale of the disease.

Therefore, UEFA has two plans for ending this season. In the case of a favorable scenario, the holding of domestic championships and European competitions will take place in parallel, in the case of a negative scenario, national tournaments will be completed first, and the Champions League and Europa League draws will be resumed in August.

Meanwhile, UEFA continues to insist that the domestic championships be played out, and the champions and holders of tickets to the European Cups be determined on a sporting basis. Nevertheless, the organization notes that the health of “football players, spectators and all those involved in football” should be at the forefront.

“If this (replay. - RT ) is impossible, in particular because of problems with the calendar, it is preferable that the postponed championships resume in a different format, which nevertheless will allow qualifying clubs in European competitions according to the sporting principle,” UEFA said.

Nevertheless, national associations have the right to prematurely complete the conduct of existing competitions. This is possible in the case of the issuance of an official order prohibiting the holding of sporting events in the country, as a result of which it will become impossible to finish the season on time. Or in the presence of “insurmountable economic problems”, as a result of which the stability of the leagues or its participants is threatened.

The distribution of places in European competition

In the event of termination of the competition, national associations will have to name the holders of permits for European Cups of the 2020/21 season. But at the same time, the procedure for determining their participants must comply with UEFA rules.

“The club selection process should be based on objective, transparent and non-discriminatory principles. In difficult cases, associations and leagues should be able to determine the final positions in the standings taking into account the specific circumstances of each competition. The final distribution of permits must be approved by the relevant competent organizations at the domestic level, ”the UEFA press release says.

Nevertheless, the Union reserves the right to refuse clubs to play in European competitions if the decision to terminate the national tournament was not made in accordance with the recommendations of UEFA and was not due to concern for the health of the participants. Also, this is possible if the selection procedure did not meet the above criteria. It is noted that the recall of the team can be carried out if the society does not agree that the choice in favor of the team was fair.

The name of Euro 2020 and the transfer of the women's European Championship

The discussion also touched upon the 2020 European Football Championship. Despite the transfer of the tournament to 2021, it will retain its original name. First of all, this will allow not to make changes to the concept of the tournament and celebrate the 60th anniversary of the first competition.

“Keeping the name will remind you how the entire football family rallied in extreme circumstances and responded to the COVID-19 virus pandemic and the difficult times that Europe and the whole world survived in 2020,” UEFA said.

The organization also noted that for the preservation of the name there was another good reason associated with the manufacture of various souvenirs.

“The decision meets the UEFA commitment to make Euro 2020 a sustainable tournament without unnecessary rubbish and waste ... In the event of a name change, they would have to be destroyed and new ones produced,” they added to UEFA.

As for the youth Euro-2021, the final decision on the timing of its holding has not yet been made. The competition was supposed to be held from June 9 to 26, but because of the pandemic, it is also at risk. The final verdict on its cancellation or postponement will be announced on May 27.

Meanwhile, the women's championship of the continent will be delayed by one year. Initially, it was supposed to be held in 2021 in Birmingham, but due to the postponement of the men's tournament and the Summer Olympics, it was decided to move it to the 2022th. At the same time, the head of the UEFA women's football division Nadine Kessler expressed the opinion that this will benefit the competition.

Team Payouts

An important event was the decision of UEFA to pay early to the Old World clubs the funds due to them for the performances of football players for national teams in the Euro 2020 qualification. Initially, they were planning to pay this money at the end of butt games, but the decline in team income due to the coronavirus pandemic made the Union think about changing the terms.

“European clubs are an integral part of the success of our national tournaments. As a result, part of the proceeds from tournaments is allocated to those who let players go to matches. In these difficult times, when many teams are faced with financial problems, especially those related to cash flows, our duty is to ensure that they receive these payments as soon as possible, ”said UEFA head Alexander Cheferin.

€ 50 million will be received by those who released players in 39 teams that are not participating in butt meetings. € 17.7 million will be divided between clubs whose representatives will protect the colors of the 16 participants of the “joints”, and the remaining € 2.7 million will go to those who allow their players to speak at this stage of the competition. Moreover, these payments will be made in the fall, after its completion.

In addition, in accordance with the memorandum of understanding between UEFA and the Association of European Clubs of 2019, the teams will be allocated at least € 200 million in connection with Euro 2020.

“These payments will help a large number of clubs throughout Europe and allow a little freer to breathe during the crisis. Payments in the amount of € 3200 to € 630 thousand euros will be received by 676 clubs from all 55 national associations that have contributed to the European qualification and the League of Nations from 2018 to 2020, ”the Union noted.