Villarreal have been informed by UEFA that they will replace fellow Primera Division club Real Mallorca in the Europa League in 2010-11.
Villarreal announced on their official website on Friday that UEFA have sent them a letter in which they have said that they will replace Mallorca in this season’s Europa League. Mallorca were disqualified from the Europa League on Thursday by UEFA, who stated that financial factors were the reasons for the expulsion of the Balearic club.
Mallorca have already announced that they plan to appeal against UEFA’s ruling saying:
“This decision is seriously harmful to the club’s administration process as there were a series of revenues expected that would have allowed payments to creditors.”
I cannot see anyway that UEFA reverses this decision and this is a welcome surprise for Villarreal and their fans after last season’s disappointing 7th place finish in La Liga.