After it was announced that travel restrictions could jeopardize the playing of European football matches on the grounds of the clubs that will be determined by lot as hosts, UEFA also took into account another possibility.
What if one country allows the citizens of another country to enter its territory without restriction, but that other country does not allow its citizens to travel there, except under special conditions of return.
On the example of Montenegro, it looks like this.
If, for example, Buducnost on the draw, on August 9, gets a rival from one of the European Union countries - Ludogorets, Legija, Ferencvaros, Suduva, Slovan Bratislava, Omonia - those teams can enter Montenegro, but another problem arises, because Since July 14, Montenegro is not on the EU list of safe countries.
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In other words, citizens of EU countries cannot return from Montenegro at best without restrictions - quarantine, isolation...
In the amendments to the rules of the competition for the 2020/21 season, it is stated:
"If the visiting club's national or local restrictions affect the visiting club's potential return, the host club must propose an alternative stadium in a neutral location, so that the match can be played, in a country where the guests can enter without problems and return without problems in their country.
If the host fails to find an adequate alternative pitch for the match, the final decision will be made by the UEFA administration. The home club will thus remain responsible for the organization of the match, but both clubs will share the costs of the organization 50/50. If any of the clubs refuse to participate, they will lose the match with a score of 3:0".
So, even in that case, the Montenegrin club could not host the qualifiers!
This, of course, also applies if the Montenegrin club gets the role of a guest in the draw, because the borders of the EU are closed to all countries of the Western Balkans.
UEFA instructed the clubs that 48 hours before the draw they must inform the European house of football if there is any other ban, which is not indicated on the list, which UEFA already has, and if additional restrictions have been introduced.
What if, for example, between the draw and the playing of the match, something changes in the national rules on arrivals in the country.
UEFA is rigorous here and states in the rules:
"Restrictions by national/local authorities that are passed after the deadline for informing the UEFA administration will not be considered. In those cases, clubs whose authorities have made decisions that prevent the holding of the match, will be expelled from the competition, and the matches will be registered with a score of 3:0 in favor of the opponent ".
Sutjeska is in a particularly dangerous zone with this rule, which will find out the name of its rival on August 9, and will not play the match until August 27.
A lot can change in 18 days...
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