Published: 17:53, April 18, 2020 | Updated: 04:03, June 6, 2023
Getafe angry at possible end of season solution in Spain
By Xinhua

Getafe's Spanish coach Jose Bordalas kicks the ball during the Spanish league football match between Getafe CF and RC Celta de Vigo at the Col. Alfonso Perez stadium in Getafe on March 7, 2020. (PHOTO / AFP)

MADRID — Spanish La Liga side Getafe say they disagree with the decision made Thursday by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) over which sides should play in next season's Champions League.

The RFEF decided that La Liga's current positions would be used to determine which teams play in continental competitions next season if the 2019-20 campaign - which was suspended indefinitely on March 23 - is unable to be completed.

When the season is over, the first criteria is results between the two teams, then the overall goal difference and then goals scored, there is no motive to change that

Jose Bordalas, Getafe coach

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That would mean Barcelona, Real Madrid, Sevilla and Real Sociedad would play in the Champions League, with fifth-placed Getafe and sixth-placed Atletico Madrid qualifying for the Europa League.

That decision has angered Getafe, who have the same number of points (46) and the same overall goal difference as Real Sociedad, only sitting behind the Basque side by virtue of having scored fewer goals.

However, if teams are level on points at the end of a full La Liga season, then head-to-head goal difference is the primary tiebreaker, and although Getafe have only faced Real Sociedad once this season, that game saw them win 2-1 in Real's Anoeta stadium.

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"When the season is over, the first criteria is results between the two teams, then the overall goal difference and then goals scored, there is no motive to change that," said Getafe coach Jose Bordalas on radio station Cadena Cope.

Meanwhile, Getafe president Angel Torres said the RFEF had "no authority" to decide who qualified for the Champions League and that "nobody had asked them to do so," although both coach and president insisted that what the club really wants to do is play. "We want to win it out on the pitch."