Bala Town: Lakesiders’ Europa League clash with Valletta in doubt following new quarantine rules
Bala Town’s Europa League first qualifying round tie against Valletta could be in jeopardy following new quarantine rules brought in by the UK and Welsh Governments.
Colin Caton’s side are due to travel to Malta to take on Valletta – who finished second in the 2019-20 Matlese Premier League – on 27 August at The Centenary Stadium in Ta’ Qali.
However, as of Saturday, travellers arriving from Malta are required by law to quarantine for a period of 14 days.
An exemption to the rule could be that Bala Town are classed as ‘elite sports people and supporters staff’ in the eyes of the Welsh Government.
On the government’s official website for travel advice, it says: “Sports competitors and support staff coming to Wales to compete in specific events do have to self‑isolate but they are allowed to leave isolation to train or compete in their sport.”
Football is listed as one of the sports permitted and includes UEFA Champions League and Europa League fixtures on it.
This is however for sports athletes coming in to Wales and doesn’t encounter for athletes leaving Wales to play competitive sport in one of the quarantine listed countries.
The associations of Cyprus, Greece, Hungary and Poland have offered UEFA their stadia as a solution to any ties which may encounter a problem such as this.
Earlier this week, Linfield were awarded a walkover after Kosovan outfit FC Drita returned two positive coronavirus tests.
The tie was initially postponed by UEFA, but European football’s governing body have since awarded the NIFL Premiership champions a 3-0 win for the match, with the entire FC Drita squad put into quarantine.
This month, UEFA released rules which could result in matches being forfeited.
Clubs must give the governing body notice of the existing travel restrictions from authorities and alternate arrangements.
UEFA’s ruling reads: “Restrictions imposed by the national/local authorities of either club in a tie after the deadline for the clubs to inform the UEFA administration in accordance with paragraph I. 1.1 shall, in principle, not be taken into account.
“In such cases, the club whose national/local authorities have imposed restrictions preventing the match from taking place as scheduled will be held responsible and the match will be declared by the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body to be forfeited by such club, which will be considered to have lost it 3-0.”
