It’s still possible UEFA end up using the coefficient rankings to decide which clubs make it into the Champions League next season.

Arsenal's French-born Ivorian midfielder Nicolas Pepe (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring their second goal during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium in London on February 16, 2020.
Arsenal’s Nicolas Pepe (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring their second goal on February 16, 2020. (Photo by IAN KINGTON/AFP via Getty Images)

Italian outlet Repubblica restarted the conversation about Champions League qualification with an article on Tuesday. They suggested it’s a ‘possibility’ that UEFA use their coefficient rankings to decide which clubs qualify.

Arsenal fans are probably already aware this is good news for the Gunners. They’re fourth of the current English team rankings, with Manchester City above them. If City’s ban stands, that leaves Mikel Arteta’s side third and securely in the top four.

The S*n also claim this is a possibility. They write that “Euro chiefs have been urged” to use coefficient scores to make the decision.

The Independent write that it’s “one way for UEFA to determine next season’s European qualifiers”, but add that the goal is still to finish the season.

Meanwhile, Gazzetta claim UEFA will give individual leagues the power to decide their own qualifiers. UEFA will then evaluate each case on a league-by-league basis.

At this point, this all seems like wild speculation. None of the four outlets are outright stating this is what will happen, and none are particularly reliable outlets anyway. It’s certainly an option, but just one of many right now.

It’s very clear the Premier League want to complete the season. If that happens, it doesn’t matter what the alternative plans were anyway.