There are potential scheduling issues if the Magpies gain that place in the Europa League.
Problems would arise if Newcastle were to finish sixth and enter the Europa League at the third qualifying round stage of the competition with the first leg of the tie to take place on August 2, the day inbetween men’s and woman’s Olympic matches.
This would prove awkward for staff at St James’ Park with all advertising and branding set to be taken down for the Olympics – which will see Spain, Brazil and Mexico among others play on Tyneside, while UEFA rules also state their own preferred advertising must be on show during Europa League games.
But sources at UEFA today claimed that they would work with Newcastle if there was a clash and that the legs of the play-off game would almost certainly be reversed in order to help United’s staging of the Olympics, which would see the Mags away from home first if they go down the Europa League route.
United are guaranteed a place in the Europa League, at the very least.