It has been claimed that the SFA will plead for Aberdeen and Motherwell to go straight into the Europa League group stages next season (Daily Record).
Scottish football, like many other leagues and nations, is doing all it can to keep up with the fast-moving health pandemic situation. It will mean big changes which could alter the landscape of the game in this country as we know it.
Big changes are coming. (Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images)
Football has been billed for an April return date by some leagues but it is becoming widely accepted that the 2019/20 season won’t be able to reach its conclusion. It could be September before we see any sort of action kick off again.
Euro entry for Dons and Steelmen
With the 2020/21 season set to alter if that is the case, the recent report claims it could mean Europa League group stage entry for Aberdeen and Motherwell. The League Cup group stages will be scrapped whilst the winter break will also go in the bin as the SPFL looks to get through the domestic and international schedule ASAP.
SFA representatives are ready to go to Nyon in order to make a case for the Well, currently in third place, and the Dons in fourth to receive direct entry to Europe’s second tier competition. Most Scottish teams have to go through rounds of qualification knockouts to reach the group stage, but that could change.
Potential Europa League entry for Aberdeen and Motherwell. (Photo by Scott Baxter/Getty Images)
Covid-19 isn’t expected to peak until June in most places across Europe. The 20/21 Europa League group stages could then be changed, with one winner progressing from the groups instead of two and three matches in the group stage phase instead of six.
UEFA competitions for this term could be decided in the autumn but this is one suggestion the SFA will seemingly put towards the footballing hierarchy.