UEFA released on Tuesday an annex to the Champions League regulations with special rules for the knockout phase in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic that includes deadlines for clubs to communicate any travel restrictions that prevent matches from being played in the approved venues.
Annex K indicates that clubs must ensure that matches can be played as planned and cooperate with their national federation to obtain exemptions from the competent authorities for possible travel restrictions, such as border closures and quarantine requirements.
Deadlines to notify UEFA
If the exemption cannot be obtained, the club will have to confirm it in writing to the UEFA administration within the following deadlines:
– Round of 16 (first leg): February 8 at the latest (24:00 CET). (2nd leg): March 1 (24:00 CET).
– Quarterfinals: March 29 at the latest (24:00 CET).
– Semifinals: April 19 at the latest (24:00 CET).
Clubs must immediately inform UEFA of any changes to travel restrictions or exemptions obtained after the above dates.
UEFA final decision
If the information provided by the clubs on restrictions from their national / local authorities is insufficient, received too late or the restrictions are insufficient for the reorganization of the match in a neutral country, the UEFA administration will make a final decision on the venue. , the date and about the club that has to assume the costs derived from it.
The local club will remain responsible for the organization of the match.
If one of the clubs refuses to participate in the match, they will be responsible for the failure of the match and the UEFA Control, Ethics and Discipline Committee will declare the match lost by that club 3-0.
In the event of contagion in the squads, UEFA indicates in the annex that if there are at least 13 players registered in the A list available (including a goalkeeper), the match must be held on the scheduled date.
In the event that there are fewer than 13 players on the A list or there is no registered goalkeeper, UEFA may allow a rescheduling of the match.
The club may field players who have not been registered with UEFA within the regulation deadlines, provided they are duly registered with their national association as players of the club in question.
The new regulations provide that UEFA can reschedule matches if this guarantees that they are played and allows the knockout phase to be completed, without jeopardizing the calendar of the next rounds of the competition or other UEFA competitions.
It also marks the following deadlines for rescheduling the matches of the different rounds:
– Round of 16: April 2
– Quarterfinals: April 23, 2021;
– Semifinals: May 14.
It also notes that if for any reason a knockout round cannot be completed as planned, the UEFA Executive Committee will decide on the principles for determining the winner.
In the case of the Europa League, the deadlines for clubs to communicate any restriction to UEFA are as follows:
– Round of 16: March 1 at the latest (24:00 CET)
– Quarter-finals: March 29 at the latest (24:00 CET)
– Semifinals: April 19 at the latest 2021 (24:00 CET).
In the event of having to relocate Europa League matches, the dates set out in the annex to the UEFA regulations are as follows:
– Sixteenth: March 5
– Round of 16: April 2
– Quarter-finals: April 23
– Semifinals: May 14