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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark Walker

Celtic and Rangers face coefficient wait as Ukrainian clubs set for UEFA group stage parachute

Ukrainian clubs may be granted a bye straight into the group stage of UEFA competitions next season with qualifiers scrapped, according to Dnipro boss Igor Jovicevic.

And that could have implications for Scotland's coefficient standings with SPFL clubs facing an anxious wait to see how it may affect countries above Ukraine in the standings.

The Ukrainian league season was called early due to the ongoing Russian invasion with European places handed out based on standings at the time.

No champion was declared but Shakhtar, who were top of the league, and second-placed Dinamo Kyiv are set to represent them in the Champions League.

Ukraine are currently 12th on the coefficient table, three points behind Scotland, and that means third-placed Dnipro go into the Europa League while Zorja and Vorskla go into the Conference League.

In normal circumstances every one of Ukraine's five European representatives would have to go through a qualifier.

But in a potential unprecedented move, Dnipro boss Jovicevic claims UEFA are in talks over a proposal to grant all of them automatic qualification.

It could give five Ukrainian clubs the chance to rack up coefficient points and puts them back in the mix for the top ten position which has all-but secured Champions League football for either Celtic or Rangers next season.

He said: "As far as I am aware, a solution is constantly being sought, a way in which Ukrainian clubs could play in Europe and the Ukrainian Federation and UEFA are in constant talks.

"There is now a proposal to allow Ukrainian clubs direct placement into the group stages of European competitions.

"The reason is that no one can play qualifiers in the war zone.

"We will see if it is possible to do such a thing, it would be a big exception, but with this concession, UEFA would help our clubs survive this difficult period by putting them directly into the group stages.

"It would be great motivation and comfort for us to know that next season, we would be heading directly into that stage of Europe."

Ukraine are currently sitting three places behind Scotland in 12th place in the coefficients and Scottish clubs will be monitoring UEFA's proposals with interest.

Next season, Celtic look certain to be in the Champions League group stage if Liverpool complete the job against Villarreal with the Premiership title enough to secure that so long as the Champions League winners also qualify through their league placing.

Rangers would even go into pot one in the Champions League if they were to win the Europa League.

Failure to win either the Europa League or the Premiership would see them enter the Champions League second qualifying round.

Hearts enter the Europa League play-off round in August and will progress to the tournament’s group stage if successful. Defeat will see them parachute into the Europa Conference League groups.

Fourth and fifth in Scotland meanwhile will be enough to secure Conference League qualifying slots.

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