Reported UEFA decision would boost Sheffield United's hopes of European football

According to the Daily Mail, UEFA have decided if European leagues are unable to complete the 2019-20 season, then the teams qualifying for next term's Champions League and Europa League will be decided on “sporting merit”.

This is significant for the Blades, because there had been suggestions they could instead opt to use European co-efficients, which would favour teams like Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur with a European pedigree, but who lag behind Chris Wilder's side in the table. Sheffield United have never qualified for European competition, whereas Spurs reached the knockout stages of this season's Champions League, and Arsenal were runners-up in last year's Europa League final.

The Premier League still hopes to complete the campaign, and Sheffield United support their stance.

UEFA had warned leagues their clubs could be barred from European competition if their leagues were not completed without permission, but they backtracked on that stance this week.

The Blades were seventh in the Premier League at the time the coronavirus brought a halt, but with only goal difference keeping them below Wolverhampton Wanderers, they would move up to sixth in a points-per-game table, which could be the preferred method of deciding placings if the season is abandoned.

Ordinarily, England gets four Champions League places, plus three for the Europa League. They go to the fifth-placed team in the Premier League, the FA Cup and League Cup winners, or to the next highest-placed teams in the league if either cup winners has qualified for Europe through the league.

Manchester City won the League Cup and are unlikely to finish below fifth, but have been banned from next season's Champions League and Europa League for financial fair play breaches. That means the next team down the table would get each place, so the top seven and eighth or the FA Cup winners would qualify.

The Blades are at home to Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

There is, however, the possibility City could appeal their ban and if it is not heard in time to decide next season's placings, apply for a stay of execution. All the top ten sides apart from City and Sheffield United were said to have written to UEFA demanding they not be allowed to do this.

The Blades have ten league matches to play, with all their home games against sides with hopes of qualifying for Europe. They are also due to play fifth-placed Manchester United and third-placed Leicester City away.

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