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Gibraltar new Uefa Member?
Author: nemesys Date: 01-10-2012, 18:17	According to some media, it seems like Gibraltar could soon became the 54th Uefa Member. Cheers! - nemesys

Re: Gibraltar new Uefa Member?
Author: alexmorgan1997 Date: 01-10-2012, 19:06	http://www.uefa.com/uefa/aboutuefa/organisation/executivecommittee/news/newsid= 1868892.html#executive+committees+st+petersburg+decisions http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/oct/01/gibraltar-football-uefa-provisio nal-member

Re: Gibraltar new Uefa Member?
Author: executor Date: 01-10-2012, 19:27	So, what happened to the "must be recognized by UN as an independent nation before being admitted to UEFA" rule? Gone out the window? Couldn't care less? We'll make an exception? Their bribe cannot possibly be overlooked? We looked into their puppy eyes and melted?

Author: Cymruambyth98
Date: 01-10-2012, 20:16

Executor "So, what happened to the "must be recognized by UN as an independent nation before being admitted to UEFA" rule? Gone out the window? Couldn't care less? We'll make an exception? Their bribe cannot possibly be overlooked? We looked into their puppy eyes and melted?"

Actually UEFA only made this rule after they applied, basically to stop them getting in. Gibraltar thought this was unfair and so went to the courts to get a ruling to make UEFA have a vote on it. Begrudgingly UEFA accepted and let the associations have a vote, but only England, Scotland and Wales voted for admitting them, largely because the Spanish FA said they would withdraw all clubs and national teams from Uefa competitions - unlikely but enough to convince plenty of member associations

Now they're trying again and it will be voted for in May 2013 and I for one hope they get in, the more the merrier I say. They even have a club called Manchester United there, a long time before they and their English counterparts come face to face though methinks.

Author: Lyonnais
Date: 01-10-2012, 23:13
Edited by: Lyonnais
at: 01-10-2012, 23:13

"Begrudgingly UEFA accepted and let the associations have a vote, but only England, Scotland and Wales voted for admitting them, largely because the Spanish FA said they would withdraw all clubs and national teams from Uefa competitions - unlikely but enough to convince plenty of member associations"

My 2 cents on this.

I think that the other UEFA members don't really care that Spain withdraws all clubs and national teams from the UEFA competitions. Spain would punish themselves, not really punish the other teams (the other teams would have a chance to win the Euro 2016!!!).
And everybody knows that this will not happen anyway.

I just think that the other associations just see very little interest from a football perspective in accepting Gibraltar as a UEFA member. This is Anglo-Spanish political issue that has nothing to do with European football in my opinion.

Author: Lorric
Date: 02-10-2012, 01:19
Edited by: Lorric
at: 02-10-2012, 01:22

Spain would never go through with that. The whole country would be up in arms that all clubs and national teams went out of business because of a spat with a tiny island.

Anyway, this Gibraltar thing has been popping up now and again for years and years. I'll believe it when I see it.

It would neatly and tidily set up 9 groups of 6 in European qualifying competition for non-European World Cups and European Championships if this cities across Europe instead of hosts idea goes through.

Author: executor
Date: 02-10-2012, 07:16

Cymruambyth98: ...the more, the merrier I say

As long as the new members are independent and recognized entities, I also have no problem with that.

But I am against seeing another administrative unit of a country getting in UEFA with their "national" team for the sole reason of that entity being separated from the mainland by a body of water. If Gibraltar has the right to be a UEFA member, why not Cornwall? Or Yorkshire? Why are those discriminated? Oh! Wait! They aren't separated by a body of water from UK, so they can't have their "national" team in UEFA...

I have the same feeling for Faroe Islands, too. I'm not pleased to see them as a member of UEFA as long as they remain a possesion of Denmark. I don't care how much autonomy they got. They're still dependent. If they will get independent, I won't have any more problems with them being in UEFA.

Otherwise, why not having Corsica, Sicily, Crete, the Balearic Islands, hell, even the Canaries? They are all bigger and more populuos than the "Sheep Islands". Why are the latter treated preferrentially?

No more subdivisions in UEFA, please! First get independent and then think of creating a national team. For entities like Gibraltar, UEFA invented the "Region's Cup".

Re: Gibraltar new Uefa Member?
Author: Forza-AZ Date: 02-10-2012, 10:19	Since Gibraltar applied before UEFA put the rule in place that new members have to be independent countries, Gibraltar doesn't have to be independent to become a member. So I hope they will be voted in. For future possible members the new rule does apply.

Re: Gibraltar new Uefa Member?
Author: UploaderAfonso Date: 02-10-2012, 11:14 Edited by: UploaderAfonso at: 02-10-2012, 11:15	Well, I don't understand it either, but the Faroe Islands, Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Monaco, Andorra, San Marino and Liechtenstein are already in it... Aren't Cornwall and Yorkshire part of England? So why would they be separate members?

Re: Gibraltar new Uefa Member?
Author: Luka Date: 02-10-2012, 15:21 Edited by: Luka at: 02-10-2012, 15:26	Spain has big problem with that, because once Gibraltar is in that would mean that Catalonia and Basque Country may opt for UEFA membership as well. And that would open a hell of Pandora's box for them. @Uploader: Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Liechtenstein are separate countries (or city states in some cases), so you can exclude them from your list.

Re: Gibraltar new Uefa Member?
Author: UploaderAfonso Date: 02-10-2012, 15:36	But I think they aren't totally independent, are they? What about Vaticano?

Re: Gibraltar new Uefa Member?
Author: MalcolmW Date: 02-10-2012, 17:35	Just a reminder that Gibraltar isn't an island (as said above). It is connected directly to Spain and has a border checkpoint.

Re: Gibraltar new Uefa Member?
Author: UploaderAfonso Date: 02-10-2012, 17:50	I know...

Author: Forza-AZ
Date: 02-10-2012, 19:39

By the way, Monaco is no UEFA member. They could be but they never applied.

There is a big difference between Gibraltar and Catalonia.
Gibraltar is no part of any existing UEFA/FIFA member. They are part of the UK, but not of England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. So players/clubs from Gibraltar can never play international matches now.
Catalonia is part of Spain and all their players/clubs can play international matches. So a application of Catalonia will never be accepted, unless they first declare thereselves independant from Spain and set up a league of their own.

Re: Gibraltar new Uefa Member?
Author: UploaderAfonso Date: 02-10-2012, 19:55	But Monaco participated in uefa competitions!

Re: Gibraltar new Uefa Member?
Author: MalcolmW Date: 02-10-2012, 20:22	No, Gibraltar is not part of the United Kingdom, nor is it in the British Isles. It is a British Dependent Territory, like Anguilla, Bermuda, Montserrat or the Falklands.

Author: executor
Date: 02-10-2012, 21:07

... and this is what I find unfair. Just because they are "detached" from the mainland they shouldn't be given a preferential treatment. Who's next? Isle of Man? Isle of Wight? Sealand?

And the part about Gibraltar players not being able to play in a NT is hilarious. They could play for England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland with no problems. They have UK citizenship, and there's no "English"or "Scottish" citizenship/passport.

Yes, you can say there are some rules for recruting English and Scottish players, but, let's be honest, any UK citizen can choose any of those teams. Details can be arranged...

If Gibraltar breaks off from UK and it's recognized as an independent country, I have no problem with them in UEFA. As long as they are just a "territory", NO!

Re: Gibraltar new Uefa Member?
Author: bert.kassies Date: 02-10-2012, 22:21	The problem of Gibraltar is not it's legal status. See British Overseas Territories. Many of these overseas territories are respected FIFA members. The problem of Gibraltar is that it is being disputed between Spain and the UK.

Re: Gibraltar new Uefa Member?
Author: schlumpy Date: 02-10-2012, 22:32	Vatican city has my vote.... Bless you all

Author: Ameobi
Date: 03-10-2012, 02:14

The status of Gibraltar is very similar to that of the Faroes who are allowed to play in UEFA. It is also has identical status to other BOTs like Bermuda, Montserrat, BVI, Cayman Islands and Anguilla who have FIFA membership. There is numerous examples littered all over FIFA of dependencies and territories that have been allowed in - why are some allowed in but others aren't? It is absurdly inconsistent.

Gibraltar may be a British dependency but they're very proud of their country. They have their own language, culture, history, parliament, laws and have one of the oldest football associations in the World. I see no reason for them not to be granted full membership - however it will ultimately come down to just how much power Spain throws around. Politics and financial clout will come before the spirit of the game as is often the case.

Author: AnelZ
Date: 03-10-2012, 03:35
Edited by: AnelZ
at: 03-10-2012, 03:39

I'm against this. It's a dependency of UK... I always was against Faeroe Islands in UEFA, I mean, they have a great deal of autonomy, but for me it's unlogical to be a UEFA member state without being a independent country. I would also rather see a UK national team, then four like it is now, but UK is a politically very complicated, so I won't go in that matter.

But since I already mentioned UK, I will point out that Republika Srpska (an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina) wants also their own national team because, as they say, if in UK there can be 4 national teams, why can't there be two in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but the chances for them are very, very low to ever get accepted by UEFA, although they have a "national" team which is inactve (mostly made up by players who play in club who is in Republika Srpska) but haven't played a game since 2001. It was scheduled for them to play against the U-21 of Serbia in 2008, but UEFA and FIFA threatened to punish Football Federation of Serbia if that happens.

I even think we will see sooner Kosovo to be accepted in UEFA and FIFA then Gibraltar, although we know that they have a great deal of obstacles to overcome and if you ask me, Kosovo should never have been accepted by any UN memeber but this is a football forum.

Re: Gibraltar new Uefa Member?
Author: Forza-AZ Date: 03-10-2012, 09:36	@UploaderAfonso The country Monaco is no member of UEFA and has never participated in international matches. The club AS Monaco is a member of the French FA and plays in French leagues, and so participated in CL/EL for France.

Re: Gibraltar new Uefa Member?
Author: UploaderAfonso Date: 03-10-2012, 16:18	Ok, thanks for the information, Forza-AZ!

Author: greenbay
Date: 03-10-2012, 17:28

Why not? Who cares about another first round champions league qualifiers between Manchester United of Gibraltar and Tre Penne of San Marino? There will hardly ever be an EC match betwenn a team from Gibraltar and a team from Spain. And if the gods of rigged UEFA draws fail, possibly because of an EL first round qualifier between some Spanish Fair Play rankings participant and a team from Gibraltar, what the heck? Even the Germans survived the 1974 WC match between the East and the West.

Author: Cymruambyth98
Date: 03-10-2012, 17:36

The way I see it Gibraltar have every right to be a member, it's over 1000 miles from the UK, and they deserve to be able to play on the international stage, whether Spain agree or not. It has a much better case than some similar places which are members of either UEFA or FIFA - they have a totally seperate culture and government.
There is no questioning the quality of players on offer either - they beat the Faroe Islands 3-0 in 2011.

Anayway, this debate will rage on and on until a resolution is found, and until UEFA and FIFA etc. decide to be more transprent and consistent in terms of who they accept as members.

Article on Jersey, and what they think:-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19800034

Author: rpo.castro
Date: 03-10-2012, 22:51

Gibraltar has a National Team in other sports, recognized by the International Federations. Last weekend they played in Portugal in fiedl hockey for world cul qualifying. So why not? Are they less then
Liechestein? Gibraltar has 100 clubs. Liechenstein evedn doesn't have a national league. Just the national cup.

An off-toppic in Portugal, some times clubs form the Islands of Madeira (Maritimo e Nacional) speak about creating own league.

Re: Gibraltar new Uefa Member?
Author: UploaderAfonso Date: 03-10-2012, 23:04 Edited by: UploaderAfonso at: 03-10-2012, 23:05	I never heard that!

Author: JK
Date: 03-10-2012, 23:45

Personally I would prefer it, if only independent countries are members of the FIFA and UEFA, which means for example only one UK team. But as this is obviously not the case and there are tons of exceptions, it seems kind of unfair to forbid Gibraltar to join, especially because they applied to join the UEFA before they introduced the UN country rule. There should be one rule for all, so either throw non UN countries out or let other non UN countries join, too.

@ UploaderAfonso

Andorra, San Marino, Liechtenstein, Monaco, and the Vatican are all independent countries. The first three are UEFA members and the last two could be, if they wanted, but they have never applied to join the UEFA.

Re: Gibraltar new Uefa Member?
Author: UploaderAfonso Date: 04-10-2012, 00:04	JK, I was talking about Madeira creating his own league...

Re: Gibraltar new Uefa Member?
Author: Jambo Date: 04-10-2012, 09:28	The UEFA members will vote in May 2013. If Gibraltar are accepted, does this mean their clubs can play in CL and EL in the 2013/14 season?

Author: Nixda
Date: 04-10-2012, 10:11
Edited by: Nixda
at: 04-10-2012, 10:12

They would need to change the access list (Annex Ia and Ib of the regulations).

And as this would be an significant alteration of the access list compared to the changes needed to fill up empty spots (TH etc) it will take some discussion time. This could be moved towards to the next cycle. Which would begin with 15/16. So they could play for the spots in the 14/15 national league.

For the 13/14 CL i see no chance as i dont think the clubs and the GFA have enough preparations for the club licensing to comply with the UEFA rules and such.

Author: Forza-AZ
Date: 04-10-2012, 10:22

No need to wait untill the next cycle. UEFA only published the official access list for a season in February. So if Gibraltar get in in May 2013 it is to late to participate in CL/EL 2013/14.
But no problem for them to compete in the 2014/15 CL/EL.

Adapting the accesslist isn't that difficult. Assuming Gibraltar gets 1 CL and 2 EL spots (just like countries 52 and 53 in the current access list), that just means moving forward 1 team from CLQ2 to CLQ1 and 2 teams from ELQ2 to ELQ1.
Filling TH spots will not change. That will just be done the same as always.

Author: MalcolmW
Date: 04-10-2012, 17:23

Executor said: "... and this is what I find unfair. Just because they are "detached" from the mainland they shouldn't be given a preferential treatment. Who's next? Isle of Man? Isle of Wight? Sealand?

And the part about Gibraltar players not being able to play in a NT is hilarious. They could play for England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland with no problems. They have UK citizenship, and there's no "English"or "Scottish" citizenship/passport.

Yes, you can say there are some rules for recruting English and Scottish players, but, let's be honest, any UK citizen can choose any of those teams. Details can be arranged...

If Gibraltar breaks off from UK and it's recognized as an independent country, I have no problem with them in UEFA. As long as they are just a "territory", NO!"

You are incorrect to say Any UK citizen can choose any of the (4) teams. The rules for anyone born within Great Britain are absolute and not susceptible to bending for convenience. If neither parents nor grandparents give an option then there is no leeway for variation.

Re: Gibraltar new Uefa Member?
Author: Nixda Date: 04-10-2012, 21:38	The difference i see is that the FAs involved will want to discuss if there is a move from Q2 to Q1 if its the RU of 26/27 or the CW of 35/36 (taking this years AL as basis). In the other direction (moveing a round later) its clear that CW have preference over other teams.

Re: Gibraltar new Uefa Member?
Author: JK Date: 04-10-2012, 22:15	@ UploaderAfonso I was referring to this exchange: Luka: Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Liechtenstein are separate countries (or city states in some cases), so you can exclude them from your list. UploaderAfonso: But I think they aren't totally independent, are they? What about Vaticano?

Re: Gibraltar new Uefa Member?
Author: UploaderAfonso Date: 04-10-2012, 23:01 Edited by: UploaderAfonso at: 04-10-2012, 23:10	Ok, but I wasn't... But they aren't totally independent, right?

Author: executor
Date: 05-10-2012, 10:17

MalcolmW: The rules for anyone born within Great Britain are absolute

Can you detail this a bit? I mean, I see 2 options here:

a) when a child is born in UK from British citizens, the officials write in its birth certificate, apart from "British citizen", the group in which he belongs (English/Scottish/Welsh/Irish). Is it correct? If it is, then it's shocking. I don't know any other country that puts in an official ID the minority in which an individual belongs. People can declare themselves as part of a certain minority/group, but it isn't written in their ID card or passport! Again, maybe you can clarify this.

b) only the place of birth is taken into consideration when deciding to which group a child should belong. This would be stupid, because people move around and would create absurd situations.

So, I'm leaning towards Option a). But if that is true, then UK can't really be considered a 'state', but more like a union of states much like the EU. So all those 4 countries might just as well declare themselves independent. It would make much more sense for everyone.

Also, I would be curious to know how the foreigner players who obtain British citizenship (and had absolutely no ancestors that lived in UK) get to choose for which "NT" to play...

Author: nemesys
Date: 05-10-2012, 11:10

You are incorrect to say Any UK citizen can choose any of the (4) teams. The rules for anyone born within Great Britain are absolute and not susceptible to bending for convenience. If neither parents nor grandparents give an option then there is no leeway for variation.

b) only the place of birth is taken into consideration when deciding to which group a child should belong. This would be stupid, because people move around and would create absurd situations.

@executor
I don't know the rules about UK citizenship(s) and I join no party on this Gibraltar issue; however I believe your question was already answered: from what I understood from MalcomW post, if a random Mr. John was born in Scotland, from Scottish parents, and has four Scottish grandparents, then for the FA (and the FIFA also maybe?) he is Scottish, and cannot choose instead to be English for example; and this even if on its passport there is only written UK citizenship. I make a silly example: there are touristic places where you enter for free if you are local, while you pay to enter if your not. And if you are "local" it is not your passport that will tell, but other documents.

Just my 2 cents, trying to help.

Cheers!

- nemesys

Author: MalcolmW
Date: 05-10-2012, 12:53

A British birth certicate contains the date and place of birth, and the local authority district in which it occurred, the given names of the child and its sex, the names of the parents including a mother's maiden name, the occupation of the father, the signature and address of the informant (person registering the birth) and relationship to the child, the date of registration and the signature of the registrar.
There is no explicit reference to any country, but the local authority district would indicate which applies. For instance Blackburn, Lancashire is in England but Blackburn, East Lothian is in Scotland.

Author: executor
Date: 05-10-2012, 14:47

OK, thanks for your answer. It looks as if it's Option B, in the end. And I keep my comment as this is stupid. If a Scottish couple lives & works in England and their children are born there, are they considered English? If so, the whole idea of having ancestors from a certain "country" is pointless. A Welsh born in Scotland is considered Scot and so on... A real mess, if you ask me...

@nemesys
See my answer above. Plus, what if you have no ancestors in UK? Think of a player from Zimbabwe, who comes to play in England. After many years of residing there, he receives citizenship. So the question is: for which "NT" can he play? If he is allowed to choose, then this is highly unfair for those that were born in UK, as they apparently don't have that option. But personally, I still don't buy that. I still think any UK citizen (either born there or "adopted") can choose any "NT". If only the "adopted" ones could, this is discrimination.

Author: MalcolmW
Date: 05-10-2012, 19:03

Yes the situation is absurd, but that is how it is. I don't think there are any statistics to show how many residents of England have parental or grandparental qualifications for one of the other constituents of the UK (or for Republic of Ireland, for that matter).

I know of one Premiership footballer who has been complimented by some pressmen for not taking up his Irish 'option' but continuing to be available to England (for whom he has never been picked at senior level). But I understand that his alternative qualification is not actually with Ireland, but Holland!

Re: Gibraltar new Uefa Member?
Author: caravaj Date: 05-10-2012, 19:56	I have a question, a little off topic, but not completely. In the Olympic games, there is no Wales, nor Scotland, only UK teams. So do you know where did the UK olympic football players come from? England or UK, including Wales, North Ireland, Scotland? By the way, I don't remember if there was a UK football team in the Olympic games.

Re: Gibraltar new Uefa Member?
Author: JK Date: 05-10-2012, 21:14	@ UploaderAfonso "Ok, but I wasn't... But they aren't totally independent, right?" Yes, they are totally independent countries. That was the whole point of my answer to you, because you didn't seem to know it.

Re: Gibraltar new Uefa Member?
Author: UploaderAfonso Date: 05-10-2012, 22:43	Oh, ok. But I thought one of the requirements to be a country was to have it's own defense, which it doesn't, since it's France which is responsible for it...

Author: MalcolmW
Date: 05-10-2012, 23:13

The makeup of Team GB in the Olympic football was a matter of great controversy in the period after the Games were awarded to London, with the realisation that the hosts would be expected to field teams. the Scottish, Welsh and Nothern Irish FAs each made it clear that they did not want their players to take part in such a team. Ultimately it became the players' free choice on whether to accept selection. In the event several Welsh players were included in the men's squad, but no Scots, and one Scot was chosen in the women's squad.
I had always been of the opinion that a tournament should have been held the previous season between the 4 home nations (under 23s for men, and open age for women) to determine which Association should represent GB. In each case this is more than 90% likely to have been England, but with no guarantee (especially in the men's competition).
That way, only one association would have been involved in each of the Olympic competitions, and wider potential problems (the FIFA membership backlash option) would have been avoided - or at least seen to be answered adequately.

Re: Gibraltar new Uefa Member?
Author: caravaj Date: 06-10-2012, 11:14	Thank you MalcolmW. I suppose the situation with the 4 home nations is not very different of dual nationality in the coutries where it is recognized. A young football player has to chose for which country he plays (Turkey or Netherlands, Ivory Coast or France...).

Author: Lorric
Date: 06-10-2012, 13:05
Edited by: Lorric
at: 06-10-2012, 13:09

@ MalcolmW

That would be unfair and stupid. So the Welsh lads who were worthy of a place in Team GB wouldn't get it because they were surrounded by inferior teammates in a tournament?

Everyone needed to grow up and get with what the Olympics are all about. The best against the best in the best spirit.

And the big threat to home nation independance, where's it at, huh? Where are all the people clamouring for an end to the 4 teams? It's as I expected all along, paranoia and nothing else.

If the nation had got behind the team and the FA scheduled more than a single friendly we could have won a medal. Pearce worked wonders under the circumstances.

I'm already tired of England qualifying for the Olympics and being denied thanks to this garbage. England qualified for the Olympics in 2008, but were denied not because a unified GB is required, but because the other nations won't co-operate. The women have had this too.

Re: Gibraltar new Uefa Member?
Author: gogu Date: 13-12-2012, 20:38	I read in the Portuguese newspaper P�blico that UEFA Will allow Gibraltar youth teams to participate in the Euro championship. Anyone have heard about this? http://www.publico.pt/desporto/noticia/a-politica-e-o-maior-adversario-do-futeb ol-no-rochedo-1576835

Author: Nixda
Date: 14-12-2012, 11:45

The committee has admitted Gibraltar as a provisional member of UEFA as from today, 1 October 2012. This follows a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in August 2011. A decision on the admission of the Gibraltar Football Association (GFA) as a full member of UEFA will be taken by the XXXVII Ordinary UEFA Congress in London in May 2013.

uefa.com

As a provisional member all new qualifications will be available until a final decision is made.

Author: Lorric
Date: 14-12-2012, 21:19

They've been drawn into the qualifying for the youth Euros. They'll actually face "big brother" England in one of them, should the vote go through. If it doesn't, I expect they'll be removed and these will be three team groups.

2013/14 U17 European Championship first qualifying round:

England
Republic of Ireland
Armenia (host)
GIBRALTAR

2013/14 U19 European Championship first qualifying round:

Croatia
Czech Republic (host)
Cyprus
GIBRALTAR

It's funny isn't it, England, Ireland and Gibraltar are all fairly close, at least compared to the vast journey to Armenia. It reminds me of last year, England, Wales and Northern Ireland were all in the same group, but had to travel to Estonia.

Author: Cymruambyth98
Date: 15-12-2012, 15:40
Edited by: Cymruambyth98
at: 15-12-2012, 16:04

On the subject of Gibraltar, their national, six-team 'premier division' begins today.

http://www.gibraltarfa.com/gibraltar_fa_website_002.htm

The question remains however as to whether the eventual winners and runners-up of this competition will be able to compete in the 2013-14 season. The 'Rock Cup' winner would potentially qualify as well, subject to everything going Gibraltar's way between now and the beginning of next season.

Also, this article on Gibraltar well worth a read.
http://www.worldsoccer.com/columnists/spains-opposition-to-gibraltar-could-be-t
he-tip-of-the-iceberg-for-uefa

Author: Lorric
Date: 15-12-2012, 20:11

Such a thing could mean teams higher up the lower ranks being stripped of their 4th European team to make way for these Gibraltan clubs...

However, Iwould predict it won't happen with teams from that league this season qualifying for Europe next season, these things have to be set up in advance before the season even starts. If Gibraltar become a member, I predict the season after that would see Gibraltan clubs competing in UEFA competition.

UEFA might also want to make sure the league actually makes it through a season first.

Author: Forza-AZ
Date: 16-12-2012, 16:54

Such a thing could mean teams higher up the lower ranks being stripped of their 4th European team to make way for these Gibraltan clubs...

That doesn't have to be the case. Most likely will be that the total numer of teams in CL and EL just is increased by 1 and 2. Only thing that has to be done to include these extra teams is moving down 1 team from CLQ2 to CLQ1 and moving down 2 teams from ELQ2 to ELQ1.