Why is a Europa League place given up? This is all about applying the EPS after all other factors. <\/p>\n
So in this example, Aston Villa<\/a> have earned a place in the Champions League but finished in a league position that qualifies them for the Europa League.<\/p>\n Uefa rules state that the berth in the lower competition has to be forfeited and passed to another league. <\/p>\n For instance, La Liga had no team in the first edition of the Conference League because Villarreal won a European competition and finished in seventh.<\/p>\n Let’s say Villa finish fifth. The Premier League gives up the Europa League place.<\/p>\n Then you apply the EPS, which goes to sixth – the first team not in the Champions League. <\/p>\n The Conference League place drops to seventh.<\/p>\n If Villa finish sixth, then it is the Conference League place which is given up. After the EPS, eighth plays in the Europa League.<\/p>\n But could Villa winning the Europa League give England a ninth European spot? Only if they finish outside the domestic European places. <\/p>\n Right now that would be outside the top six – or the top seven if, say, Manchester City<\/a> win the FA Cup. <\/p>\n As Villa are eight points ahead of seventh-placed Brentford<\/a>, there is only a slim possibility this could happen.<\/p>\n For Forest, it’s a very simple situation as they sit 16th in the Premier League on 33 points. <\/p>\n Forest are out of the FA Cup, so they cannot qualify for Europe domestically.<\/p>\n If Vitor Pereira leads Forest past Villa and on to Europa League glory there will be a sixth English team in the Champions League, and at least nine in Europe. <\/p>\n