Qualifying for Europe through the cup

[Monts]

With the new European conference coming into play for next season, I think it is time for the scottish football authorities to revisit the pecking order of the european qualification.

Clearly it is a quirk this year, however, as it stands, if the Scottish cup is played to a finish this season, the winner is guaranteed group stage european football. So there is the potential for a smaller club to get this huge prize.

Surely the authorities should want teams representing scotland with a realistic chance of contributing to the coefficient.

I'm not saying that there shouldn't be any european qualification on offer to the cup winner, but it seems short sighted to offer the only direct route into the Europa League to a team that only needs to win 5 games.

Thoughts?

[Diclonius]

Agree. The "first" EL place should go to the team that finishes third.

[Hibernian Verse]

I'm not 100% but I'm sure all domestic cup winners get into the Europa league. Certainly looks that way on Wiki so it might not be up to the SFA/SPFL.

[lord bunberry]

I'm not 100% but I'm sure all domestic cup winners get into the Europa league. Certainly looks that way on Wiki so it might not be up to the SFA/SPFL.
I think it’s UEFA that insist on it, they want to recognise the importance of national cup competitions.

[Monts]

I'm not 100% but I'm sure all domestic cup winners get into the Europa league. Certainly looks that way on Wiki so it might not be up to the SFA/SPFL.


I think it’s UEFA that insist on it, they want to recognise the importance of national cup competitions.

If thats the case, then fair enough I guess.

[Hibernian Verse]

This has reminded me of the Brondby games. Cummings onside "offside" goal and the McGinn pen miss that sent us out...we were superb over two legs, especially away.

I won £2000 from a £1 bet as I had Gray and 1-0 Hibs in 90 mins.

[Billy Whizz]

Rumours that the Cup will be finished next season, wonder where that leave the eventual cup winner

[Sir David Gray]

Rumours that the Cup will be finished next season, wonder where that leave the eventual cup winner

No European place on offer again I would imagine.

[DH1875]

It'll go to the team finishing 3rd this year. No chance we are finishing the cup this season.

[Billy Whizz]

It'll go to the team finishing 3rd this year. No chance we are finishing the cup this season.

If UEFA allow it

[Hibs4185]

If UEFA allow it

Then it should go to the last team to win the scottish cup....which is Celtic. Celtic will already qualify so it should go to the last team outside of Celtic to win the scottish cup!

Hibs as previous cup winners or hibs for finishing third!

[Magpie]

Then it should go to the last team to win the scottish cup....which is Celtic. Celtic will already qualify so it should go to the last team outside of Celtic to win the scottish cup!

Hibs as previous cup winners or hibs for finishing third!

👍🏻

[CMurdoch]

Rumours that the Cup will be finished next season, wonder where that leave the eventual cup winner

High and dry!
Given the pandemic UEFA have bigger things to worry about.

[LustForLeith]

What’s the chat with Europe if we finish third? How many games do we play until we get to the group stages?

[Sir David Gray]

What’s the chat with Europe if we finish third? How many games do we play until we get to the group stages?

I believe if the Scottish Cup is scrapped, we go into the Play offs of the Europa League - if we win that round we go into the group stage of the Europa League and if we lose we go into the group stage of the inaugural Europa Conference League.

[MyJo]

What’s the chat with Europe if we finish third? How many games do we play until we get to the group stages?

If we get the place intended for the cup winners we will be in the Europa league play-off round. Win that and we are in the Europe league group stages. Lose and we drop into the conference league group stages instead.

If we finish fourth or someone else wins the cup and gets that place we will enter the 2nd qualifying stage of the conference league and need to win in three rounds to get to the group stage

[Jones28]

I believe if the Scottish Cup is scrapped, we go into the Play offs of the Europa League - if we win that round we go into the group stage of the Europa League and if we lose we go into the group stage of the inaugural Europa Conference League.

That’s a fantastic opportunity for us, either way we get European group stage football.

[LustForLeith]

Thanks folks 👍

[Since90+2]

Absolutely no chance the Scottish cup is finished this season. Whoever finishes 3rd will get guaranteed group stage European football.

[Not In The Know]

Rumours that the Cup will be finished next season, wonder where that leave the eventual cup winner

Being logical about the situation that suits us best.

Better 3rd place prize up for grabs and then we can win it twice next yer.

[Col2]

Absolutely no chance the Scottish cup is finished this season. Whoever finishes 3rd will get guaranteed group stage European football.

Is this Europa league group stages or the new European competition group stage? Or in simple terms if cup cancelled does 3rd give us what the cup winners would have got?

[Magpie]

Is this Europa league group stages or the new European competition group stage? Or in simple terms if cup cancelled does 3rd give us what the cup winners would have got?

Guaranteed the group stages of the new conference league but would also play in the play offs of the regular Europa League beforehand.

[1van Sprou7e]

Absolutely no chance the Scottish cup is finished this season. Whoever finishes 3rd will get guaranteed group stage European football.

For selfish reasons I hope you're right, but I'm not too sure just yet

At the end of the day it's only 5 rounds of fixtures which need to be played and apparently the SFA are determined to finish it before summer

[Monts]

Could Uefa dictate that a national cup winner should still be put forward, if there is one?

Like is there any chance of them switching it to the league cup winners if the scottish isn't played?

[nonshinyfinish]

Could Uefa dictate that a national cup winner should still be put forward, if there is one?

Like is there any chance of them switching it to the league cup winners if the scottish isn't played?

In theory UEFA can do whatever they want – it's their competition so they make the rules.

However, with the precedent set last season when the place from the delayed Scottish Cup reverted to the league placings, it seems pretty unlikely.

[Sir David Gray]

Is this Europa league group stages or the new European competition group stage? Or in simple terms if cup cancelled does 3rd give us what the cup winners would have got?

Yes if the cup is scrapped or postponed until next season, based on what happened this season, 3rd place will take the Scottish Cup place, 4th will take 3rd place and 5th will take 4th place.

[Col2]

Guaranteed the group stages of the new conference league but would also play in the play offs of the regular Europa League beforehand.

Cheers! Really huge incentive. And with sheep in free fall real chance to drive home opportunity and extend gap.