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RFEF Plan to Determine 2020/21 Champions League Qualification on Current La Liga Standings

By Matt O'Connor-Simpson

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The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) plan to determine European qualification next season based on current La Liga standings, if the season cannot be completed. 

Football in Spain has been suspended ​for over a month now due to the coronavirus outbreak and the country remains in strict lockdown.

The continuing crisis means uncertainty remains over when the season will resume, with the RFEF exploring solutions in the event that the campaign cannot be completed at all.

According to ​ESPN, in this eventuality European qualification for the 2020/21 season would be determined by current league positions. 

In practice, this controversial step would mean ​Barcelona, ​Real Madrid, Sevilla and Real Sociedad would qualify for next season's ​Champions League while Getafe and ​Atletico Madrid would progress into the Europa League. 

An additional Europa League place is normally awarded to the Copa del Rey winner and if the all Basque final between Real Sociedad and Athletic Club cannot be played, the latter would secure the spot.

If La Liga restarts but is not completed, the standings at the time of suspension would be used to decide continental qualification.

This plan is likely to anger sixth placed Atletico, who are just one point adrift of the top four. The RFEF are also unlikely to find support in Getafe, who are only outside of the Champions League spots on head-to-head record to Real Sociedad - who they are yet to play at home. 

It is understood that the proposal has been received poorly by La Liga. They have a long history of tangling with the RFEF and the league are displeased that they do not have the final say on which clubs are entered into European competitions next season.

UEFA have unsurprisingly suspended all registration for its 2020/21 competitions indefinitely, so there is no rush to come to a final decision yet. La Liga president Javier Tebas recently insisted that the season would be completed.

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