Clubs receive UEFA seeding boost
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Airtricity League clubs are set to enter the UEFA Champions League and Europa League draws in June with the most favourable odds in the history of Irish participation on the European stage.
Following the completion of the 2010-11 UEFA Champions League competition, thoughts will now turn to the 2011-12 campaign where Ireland’s representatives in Europe will be Airtricity League champions Shamrock Rovers, FAI Ford Cup holders Sligo Rovers, Bohemians and St Patrick’s Athletic.
With the domestic action coming to a close in the leagues that run a winter season, the Irish clubs have a clearer picture now of what their European challenge will be. As a result of FK Borac Banja Luka winning the League title in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Shamrock Rovers will be seeded in the draw for the Second Qualifying Round of the UEFA Champions League.
The Hoops will face one of the following 17 clubs in that round: Dacia Chisinau (Moldova), FC Pyunik Yerevan (Armenia), FK Borac Banja Luka (Bosnia-Herzegovina), Skonto Riga (Latvia), FC Fehérvár (Hungary), Bangor City (Wales), HB Torshavn (Faroe Islands), Linfield (Northern Ireland), Tobol Kustanai (Kazakhstan), F91 Dudelange (Luxembourg), Flora Tallinn (Estonia), Breidablik (Iceland), FC Valletta (Malta), Neftchi Baku (Azerbaijan), Shkendija Tetovo (FYR Macedonia), Skënderbeu Korçë (Albania) and FK Mogren (Montenegro).
Being seeded will give the Hoops an opportunity to make significant progress in Europe this summer. Victory in the Second Round would guarantee Shamrock Rovers a minimum of four extra European matches including a play-off for a place in the group stages of the Europa League if required.
Financially, it would also mean a minimum payment of €550,000 from UEFA - €330,000 of which is already guaranteed - and the club would also garner €130,000 should the Hoops qualify for the next round. Rovers would also benefit to the tune of a further €90,000 should they fail to qualify for the Champions League group stages and move into the Europa League.
St Patrick’s Athletic will also be seeded in the draws for both the First and Second Qualifying Rounds of the UEFA Europa League while Bohemians will be seeded for the Second Qualifying Round as they are exempt from the First Qualifying Round. The draws from both stages of the UEFA Europa League will take place on June 20th.
By virtue of FC Porto winning the Europa League Cup rather than Sporting Braga, Sligo Rovers - as FAI Ford Cup winners - will be forwarded to the Third Qualifying Round of the UEFA Europa League. This is because FC Porto do not require the title holder’s place in the Europa League as they have qualified for the Champions League next season. Ireland is placed 29th on the access/ranking list. This would be the first time ever that an Irish club was exempted from two rounds of a European club competition.
Airtricity League director Fran Gavin said: “Our Clubs have made significant progress in Europe over the past few seasons and this year’s representatives are benefiting from those previous good results.
“The inclusion of Sligo Rovers in the Europa League 3rd qualifying round is another milestone for the Airtricity League and puts the group stages well in sight of an Airtricity League club. However we should not under estimate how difficult this seasons European campaigns will be for our clubs, who are now working with reduced squads and young players, some of whom will be facing European opposition for the first time.”
Following the completion of the 2010-11 UEFA Champions League competition, thoughts will now turn to the 2011-12 campaign where Ireland’s representatives in Europe will be Airtricity League champions Shamrock Rovers, FAI Ford Cup holders Sligo Rovers, Bohemians and St Patrick’s Athletic.
With the domestic action coming to a close in the leagues that run a winter season, the Irish clubs have a clearer picture now of what their European challenge will be. As a result of FK Borac Banja Luka winning the League title in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Shamrock Rovers will be seeded in the draw for the Second Qualifying Round of the UEFA Champions League.
The Hoops will face one of the following 17 clubs in that round: Dacia Chisinau (Moldova), FC Pyunik Yerevan (Armenia), FK Borac Banja Luka (Bosnia-Herzegovina), Skonto Riga (Latvia), FC Fehérvár (Hungary), Bangor City (Wales), HB Torshavn (Faroe Islands), Linfield (Northern Ireland), Tobol Kustanai (Kazakhstan), F91 Dudelange (Luxembourg), Flora Tallinn (Estonia), Breidablik (Iceland), FC Valletta (Malta), Neftchi Baku (Azerbaijan), Shkendija Tetovo (FYR Macedonia), Skënderbeu Korçë (Albania) and FK Mogren (Montenegro).
Being seeded will give the Hoops an opportunity to make significant progress in Europe this summer. Victory in the Second Round would guarantee Shamrock Rovers a minimum of four extra European matches including a play-off for a place in the group stages of the Europa League if required.
Financially, it would also mean a minimum payment of €550,000 from UEFA - €330,000 of which is already guaranteed - and the club would also garner €130,000 should the Hoops qualify for the next round. Rovers would also benefit to the tune of a further €90,000 should they fail to qualify for the Champions League group stages and move into the Europa League.
St Patrick’s Athletic will also be seeded in the draws for both the First and Second Qualifying Rounds of the UEFA Europa League while Bohemians will be seeded for the Second Qualifying Round as they are exempt from the First Qualifying Round. The draws from both stages of the UEFA Europa League will take place on June 20th.
By virtue of FC Porto winning the Europa League Cup rather than Sporting Braga, Sligo Rovers - as FAI Ford Cup winners - will be forwarded to the Third Qualifying Round of the UEFA Europa League. This is because FC Porto do not require the title holder’s place in the Europa League as they have qualified for the Champions League next season. Ireland is placed 29th on the access/ranking list. This would be the first time ever that an Irish club was exempted from two rounds of a European club competition.
Airtricity League director Fran Gavin said: “Our Clubs have made significant progress in Europe over the past few seasons and this year’s representatives are benefiting from those previous good results.
“The inclusion of Sligo Rovers in the Europa League 3rd qualifying round is another milestone for the Airtricity League and puts the group stages well in sight of an Airtricity League club. However we should not under estimate how difficult this seasons European campaigns will be for our clubs, who are now working with reduced squads and young players, some of whom will be facing European opposition for the first time.”
