'Champions League Qualification For Next Season Will Be Determined By 'Sporting Merit'

UEFA have decided that next season's Champions League places will be decided on 'sporting merit' if the current season cannot be finished according to reports.

The Times believe this will be based on a 'points per game' ratio which means the Premier League's places will go to Liverpool, Manchester City, Leicester City and Chelsea.

UEFA's decision would see Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers take the Europa League places, with North London duo Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur missing out all together.

Hearing UEFA's executive committee has just decided that if leagues do not finish then qualification for Champions League/Europa League should be on sporting merit (which sounds like points per game)

— Martyn Ziegler (@martynziegler) April 23, 2020

Martyn Ziegler goes on to stress that this does not affect domestic issues such as title wins or relegation.

I should add that UEFA's guidelines ONLY affects European qualification, not domestic issues

— Martyn Ziegler (@martynziegler) April 23, 2020

The Athletic's Oliver Kay has also explained how a points per game ruling would impact the overall final Premier League table.

If Premier League decided by points per game
* Sheff Utd would go from 7th to 6th, leapfrogging Wolves
* Arsenal would go from 9th to 8th, finishing above Spurs for first time in four years
Otherwise unchanged
* Liverpool 1st
* Bournemouth, Norwich, Villa still in relegation zone https://t.co/Po2VYGKKsZ

— Oliver Kay (@OliverKay) April 23, 2020

The news will come as a huge blow to seventh place Sheffield United, who have enjoyed a sublime return to the Premier League after a 12 year hiatus.

Thursday morning's meeting of UEFA's executive committee was led by president Alexander Ceferin and was held via video conference call.

A similar call last month saw Euro 2020 postponed until 2021.

Do you think the Premier League season will be finished or do you think it will be cancelled?

Let us know in the comments.

source https://www.sportbible.com/football/football-news-how-next-seasons-champions-league-qualification-will-be-determined-20200423