Europa League winners awarded spot in Champions League

                   

The Creme de la Creme of European football gathered in London on the eve of the UEFA champions league final to discuss and vote upon some key European football issues. Among the main items on the agenda for the London Congress were the creation of uefa champions league slot for the europa league winners and the adoption of the anti racism resolution.

              


The winners of the Europa League will qualify for the following season's Champions League from the 2015-16 season. UEFA's move is designed to boost the profile of European football's second tournament which was won by Chelsea earlier this month.

It is understood that Europa League winners and Champions League winners will no longer take a place from the domestic leagues if they finish outside the Champions League qualifying spots.

The new ruling will mean that England could have five Champions League places from 2015-16 if one of its clubs lifts the Europa League in 2015 and finishes outside the top four.

UEFA meanwhile has ratified a proposal to impose a 10-match European ban for players and officials found guilty of racism. Racism by fans will be punished by partial stadium closure for a first offence, with a full stadium closure for a second offence.

                   

The FA announced its own five-match minimum ban last week, but UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino said individual associations could still decide on their own sanctions.

Infantino told a news conference: 'An association should adopt the same or similar measures. UEFA has always acted in a way to try to convince people rather than impose.

'I don't think you measure the way of fighting against racism in one simple measure and sanction. 'The way I read the FA's decision is that it could be five matches and it could also be 15. The FA are sure their way of regulating is more correct for England.

'It's their decision but it doesn't mean they do more or less than us. Everyone has to do what they can do in this field. 'The FA is autonomous and know best what is best for England to do in the fight against racism. It is probably one of the countries where the most has been done.'

UEFA also announced tougher sanctions for insulting and assaulting match officials.

The ban for insulting officials has been raised from two to three matches and for assaulting match officials from 10 to 15 matches. In other decisions, UEFA has announced that the Champions League final in 2015 will take place in Berlin's Olympic Stadium and the Europa League final in Warsaw.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE RULE CHANGE

Q: What are the Champions League rule changes?
A: From 2015-16, the Europa League winners and the Champions League winners will both qualify for the following season's Champions League.

Q: Will the maximum number of clubs from the top nations such as England in the Champions League remain at four clubs?
A: No, there will be a maximum of five clubs but only under special circumstances.

Q: When can a country have five clubs in the Champions League?
A: Only when a club wins the Champions League or Europa League but finishes outside the top four in the domestic league. That happened last season when Chelsea finished sixth in the Premier League but took the Champions League spot from Tottenham who finished fourth, because they were European champions.

Q: Will a country be able to have six clubs if both Champions League and Europa League winners come from the same nation and both finish outside of the top four?
A: No - five is the maximum. In that unlikely scenario, the European trophy winners would qualify plus the top three.

Q: If the Champions League or Europa League winners finish inside the top four of their domestic league, will that allow the runners-up to qualify?
A: No, only the winners.

Q: Will the Europa League winners go straight into the group phase of the Champions League?
A: That has still to be confirmed but it appears that will usually be the case.

Q: If the Champions League or Europa League winners also qualify via their domestic league, will that allow the fifth-placed club in the league to take the 'spare' qualification place?
A: No, in that scenario there would still only be four clubs qualifying.