Mosta FC set to participate in Europa Conference League as UEFA denies Hamrun access to Champions League

Hibernians will be participating in the UEFA Champions League while Gzira United, Birkirkara and Mosta will take part in the new UEFA Europa Conference League after UEFA denied champions Hamrun Spartans access to the UEFA Champions League.

The Member Clubs Licensing Board of the Malta Football Association had granted the Spartans the UEFA licence after they met the licensing criteria established by UEFA. However following a report by an independent UEFA IEthics Officer, the European body decided against. This was due to the case when the club was found guilty of match-fixing and two members of the club committee were handed a life ban in 2012/13.

Hamrun can still appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

For Mosta, this will be the first time ever to participate in a UEFA club competition. The Blues were sixth last season when the league was terminated but fifth-placed Sliema Wanderers withdrew their application for a UEFA licence.

Hibernians will be one of the unseeded teams in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Champons League along with Riga FC (LAT), HJK Helsinki (FIN), Linfield (NIR), CS Fola Esch (LUX), Shakhtior Saligorsk (BLR), Neftchi Baku (AZE), Maccabi Haifa (ISR), Shamrock Rovers (IRE), Connah’s Quay (WAL), Valur Reykjavik (ICE), Bodo/Glimt (NOR), Mura Murska Sobota (SLO), Teuta Durres (ALB), FK Borac Banja Luka (BOS) and the winner of the preliminary round.

The seeded teams and therefore possible opponents for the Paolites are: Dinamo Zagreb (CRO), Ludogorets Razgrad (BUL), Malmo (SWE), CFR Cluj (ROM), Legia Warsaw (POL), Sheriff Tiraspol (MOL), Ferencvaros (HUN), Shkendija Tetovo (MAC), Slovan Bratislava (SVK), Zalgiris Vilnius (LIT), Alashkert (ARM), Flora Tallinn (EST), Buducnost Podgorica (MNE), Kairat Almaty (KAZ) and Lincoln Red Imps (GIB).

Meanwhile in the first qualifying of the UEFA Europa Conference League, with a coefficient of 2.5, Gzira United should be seeded while Birkirkara and Mosta will be unseeded.

The seeded teams, and therefore possible opponents for Birkirkara and Mosta, are: NK Maribor (SLO), Fehervar (HUN), Dundalk (IRE), Suduva Marijampole (LIT), The New Saints (WAL), Spartak Trnava (SVK), FK Sarajevo (BOS), NK Domzale (SLV), KI Klaksvik (FAR), KuPS Kuopio (FIN), FH Hafnarfjardar (ICE), Sutjeska Niksic (MNE), FC Santa Coloma (AND), Partizani Tirana and KF Laci (ALB), Europa FC (GIB), FK Liepaja (LAT), Levadia Tallinn (EST), FC Drita (KOS), La Fiorita (SMR), Stjarnar (ICE), Puskas Akademia (HUN), Slask Wroclaw (POL), FK Shkupi (MAC), Petrocub Hincesti (MOL), NSI Runavik (FAR), Coleraine (NIR), Tre Penne (SMR), Siroki Brijeg (BOS), MSK Zilina (SVK), Bala Town (WAL) and Breidablik (ICE).

The unseeded teams, and hence possible opponents for Gzira, are: St. Joseph’s (GIB), Milsami Orhei (MOL), Urartu (ARM), Kauno Zalgiris (LIT), RFS Riga (LAT), Inter Turku (FIN), Sileks Kratovo (MAC), Racing Union and Swift Hesperange (LUX), Velez Mostar (BOS), Bohemians and Sligo Rovers (IRE), FC Struga (MAC), Sfantul Gheorghe (MOL), FC Noah (ARM), Valmieras FK (LAT), Ararat Yerevan (ARM), Vllaznia Shkoder (ALB), Glentoran and Larne FC (NIR), Dinamo Batumi (GEO), Honka Espoo (FIN), Dila Gori and Gagra Tbilisi (GEO), Sant Julia (AND), KF Llapi (KOS), Mons Calpe (GIB), Paide Linnameeskond (EST), Decic Tuzi and FK Podgorica (MNE) and Newtown (WAL)