UEFA have confirmed that Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club will gain automatic entry to the group stage of the Europa League
After this morning's decision by UEFA to suspend the Ukrainian side Metalist Kharkiv from European competition, Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club received word from the European governing body that they will gain automatic entry to the group stage of the Europa League. Maccabi drew PAOK Thessaloniki in the play-off round after the Greek side lost to the Ukrainians in the third qualifying round of the Champions League. But due to the suspension of Metalist, the Greek team will now replace them as rivals to German side FC Schalke 04 in the play-off round of the Champions League, sending Maccabi through to the group stage of the Europa League automatically. Maccabi's anticipated ties with PAOK have subsequently been cancelled and they will now await the draw for the Europa League group stage that will take place on the 30th of August in Monaco. As a result, Maccabi Tel Aviv's next official fixture will be the opening match of the Israeli Premier ("Winner") League against Hapoel Acre on the 24th of August.
The fixture schedule of the group stage of the Europa League will see the first legs played on September 19th, October 3rd and October 24th, with the return legs on November 7th, November 28th and December 12th.
