By Tom Parsons
May 16 – News that the English Premier League could have its first-ever play off for a Champions League spot if results went a certain way this weekend, has sparked a wave of social media excitement and betting activity.
Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham are doing battle for the two remaining Champions League places, with Chelsea all but mathematically securing their spot in Europe’s elite competition following their 2-1 win at Aston Villa on Saturday.
However, in a bizarre twist, the Premier League has confirmed that the competition could host its first ever play-off match to automatically qualify for the Champions League next season if Chelsea and Arsenal finish exactly level in third place.
This situation will come about on Sunday if the two London clubs finish on the same points, goal difference, goals for and goals against. This could happen if the Gunners win 2-1 away at Newcastle and Chelsea draw 0-0 with Everton.
This situation would be the first of its kind in the competition and despite Chelsea’s home and away wins against Arsenal, the Premier League confirmed this wouldn’t be used as a tie breaker to determine the final standings. A one-off match at a neutral venue would be used to split the two teams for the automatic qualification place.
Bookmakers have offered odds of around 50-1 for the results on Sunday going the way whereby a playoff would be required to determine 3rd. One tweet from insideworldfootball (@insidewldftball) was retweeted over 1,000 times last night during the Arsenal vs Wigan game.
The importance of finishing third rather than fourth means the winner avoids the rigours of a two-legged play-off before the season starts to qualify for the Champions League.
As unprecedented as it may be, if this outcome were to happen it would throw the clubs into turmoil, but leave marketers of the Premier League licking their lips at the prospect of a “39th game”.
Chelsea fly to America early next week and England have two friendly matches in the coming fortnight, meaning it would be a schedulers nightmare. However, this is under Premier League rules therefore meaning the seasons for these two London clubs could run into June to accommodate this mouth-watering tie.
The Premier League have stated: “If at the end of the season… the question of qualification for other competitions cannot be determined because two or more clubs are equal on points, goal difference and goals scored, the clubs concerned shall play off one or more deciding league matches on neutral grounds, the format, timing and venue of which shall be determined by the board.”
The only other time a play off at the top of the Premier League has been a possibility was at the end of the 1995/96 season when Newcastle and Manchester United would have to play-off for the title as the two teams were so close to each other. Tickets and flyers had been prepared for the game that could have potentially taken place at Wembley on May 16 or May 21. Manchester United won the title without requiring ‘Fergie time’.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734798755labto1734798755ofdlr1734798755owedi1734798755sni@s1734798755nosra1734798755p.mot1734798755 or on Twitter @insidewldftball