UEFA Appeals Body renders decision on UEL preliminary round match Lincoln Red Imps v FC Prishtina
Monday, August 24, 2020
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The UEFA Europa League preliminary round match between Lincoln Red Imps and FC Prishtina was scheduled for 22 August 2020 in Gibraltar.
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Following the entire team of FC Prishtina (KOS) having been tested negative prior to their arrival in Gibraltar in accordance with the UEFA Return to Play Protocol, the team had to undergo additional COVID-19 testing upon arrival in Gibraltar, ahead of their UEFA Europa League preliminary round match against Lincoln Red Imps FC (GIB) scheduled for 18 August 2020 as required by local legislation.
Several members of the delegation of FC Prishtina returned positive COVID-19 test results, resulting in the local authorities deciding to quarantine the entire team. Upon request of FC Prishtina, the match was rescheduled to 22 August 2020 in accordance with the deadlines stipulated in Annex I of the 2020/21 UEFA Europa League Regulations (UEL Regulations) in order for the club to provide a list of additional players tested negative and eligible to play the match in accordance with Annex I.2.1 of the UEL Regulations.
Following the required tests, eight players from this second group returned positive COVID-19 test results, and, consequently, a decision was taken by the relevant authorities of Gibraltar to put the entire second group of FC Prishtina players into quarantine. Consequently, the match could not be played.
The matter was submitted to the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body, for a decision to be taken in accordance with Annex I of the UEL 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 Europa League preliminary round match between Lincoln Red Imps and FC Prishtina, that was initially scheduled to be played on 18 August 2020, as forfeited by FC Prishtina, who is therefore deemed to have lost the match 3-0 in accordance with Annex I.2.1 to the Regulations of the UEFA Europa League (2020/21 season).