Linfield awarded walkover after Covid-19 complications involving preliminary round opponents

UEFA have announced the decision to award Linfield a walk over and as a result a 3-0 win over KF Drita in their UEFA Champions League Preliminary round qualifier.

Linfield were due to face Drita on August 11^th in Nyon, however, after a second Drita player tested positive for Covid-19, the entire Drita squad was placed into quarantine.

The UEFA statement following the ruling reads as follows:

The UEFA Champions League preliminary round match between KF Drita and Linfield FC was scheduled to be played on August 11, 2020 in Nyon, Switzerland.

In view of the whole team of KF Drita (KOS) being put into quarantine after a second player of this team had tested positive for COVID-19, the UEFA Champions League preliminary round match between KF Drita and Linfield FC (NIR) – scheduled for 11 August at 18:00 CET in Nyon, Switzerland – could not be played.

The matter was submitted to the UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body, for a decision to be taken in accordance with Annex I of the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League regulations. Based on the Article 30 (4) of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations and given the urgent circumstances of the matter, the chairman of the Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body referred the case to the Appeals Body.

The Chairman of the UEFA Appeals body took today the following decision:

“To declare the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League preliminary round match between KF Drita and Linfield FC, that was scheduled to be played on 11 August 2020, as forfeited by KF Drita, who is therefore deemed to have lost the match 3-0 in accordance with Annex I.2.1 to the Regulations of the UEFA Champions League (2020/21 season).”

The Linfield squad are now safely back in Belfast where they are preparing for their first round qualifying tie, due to take place on Tuesday, August 18^th away to Legia Warsaw.