NIFL confirms loss of European place for next season

Only three European places will be up for grabs for the 2020/21 season the NI Football League have confirmed.
By Steven Crawford
Published 19th Sep 2019, 18:16 BST
After the performances from local teams in Europe this year the additional place should be reinstated for the 2021/2022 seasonAfter the performances from local teams in Europe this year the additional place should be reinstated for the 2021/2022 season
After the performances from local teams in Europe this year the additional place should be reinstated for the 2021/2022 season

In a statement released on Thursday afternoon NIFL confirmed UEFA had advised of the reduction for next season, however the governing body added a rise in the rankings should see a return to four spaces for the following season.

The statement said: "Following communication from UEFA of the latest Access List for European Competitions, the NI Football League has been advised that places allocated to Northern Ireland representatives has been reduced for the 2020/2021 season.

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"Northern Ireland is currently ranked in 52nd position (from 55 member nations) as of the end of the 2018/2019 season. As a result, next season clubs representing Northern Ireland in UEFA Competitions will be limited to three places – one for UEFA Champions League and two for the UEFA Europa League.

"The three European places will be allocated to the Danske Bank Premiership winners (UEFA Champions League), the Irish Cup winners (UEFA Europa League) and the Premiership runners-up (UEFA Europa League). There will be no Europa League play series at the end of this current season.

"Despite this disappointment, the fantastic performances of our four representative clubs in UEFA Competitions this summer, in which all four clubs progressed at least one round of their respective competitions, means that the Northern Ireland co-efficient ranking is expected to rise to 48th position by the end of the current season.

"Whilst clarification will not be formally communicated until this time next year – the rise in the rankings will see Northern Ireland return to an allocation of four places, with the return of an additional place for the start of season 2021/2022."

Related topics:UEFAUEFA Champions LeaguePremiershipDanske Bank