NK Varaždin will get a new opponent in the Conference League qualifiers. The draw had decided that Varaždin would play against Hradec Králové, but the expulsion of MFK Karviná from the league due to match-fixing could lead to changes.

What happened?

The Ethics Committee of the Czech Football Association made a drastic decision and expelled MFK Karviná from the top division. It was found that the club had participated in fixing the results of three matches.

How will this affect NK Varaždin?

If UEFA suspends Karviná, a chain reaction will be triggered in the distribution of European places for Czech clubs. In that case, Viktoria Plzeň would take Karviná's place in the last round of Europa League qualifiers. Hradec Králové would take Plzeň's place in the second round of qualifiers for the same competition.

Who will be NK Varaždin's new opponent?

This development means that Jablonec, who finished the season in fifth place, would take Hradec Králové's place in the second round of Conference League qualifiers, which directly affects Varaždin. The Croatian representative had drawn Hradec Králové as their opponent, so in the event of Karviná's suspension, Nikola Šafarić's team would play against Jablonec.

The first match of the second qualifying round is scheduled for July 23 in Varaždin, with the return match a week later in the Czech Republic.