This archive report was first published on 23 April 2020.
On April 23, 2020, Uefa made a significant announcement regarding the qualification process for the next Champions League. In light of the ongoing coronavirus crisis, the European football governing body stated that qualification should be based on sporting merit if domestic leagues cannot be completed.
According to Uefa, if a domestic competition is prematurely terminated for legitimate reasons, the governing body would require leagues to select clubs for the Uefa club competitions 2020/21 based on sporting merit. This means that current standings would be considered final and used as a basis for teams to qualify for the next Champions League and Europa League.
Uefa's announcement comes as several countries are looking to bring an early end to their football seasons due to the complications of lockdowns imposed due to the health situation. The Dutch football federation (KNVB) has already announced its intention to call an end to the season, while the Belgian Pro League is set to decide next week that it will end its season, declaring Club Brugge champions. In contrast, the German Bundesliga is hoping to restart early next month.
