Linfield have become the first side to receive a bye in Europe due to UEFA's new rules regarding COVID-19.
Tuesday night's Champions League preliminary round tie with KF Drita has been postponed after a second player with the Kosovar champions tested positive for coronavirus.
The tie was due to be played in Nyon, Switzerland but Swiss health authorities have placed the entire Drita squad in quarantine.
Linfield had earned their place in the de facto preliminary round 'final' courtesy of a 2-0 win on Saturday over San Marino champions, Tre Fiori.
As part of temporary rule changes from UEFA, teams who cannot complete a European tie must forfeit the game to their opposition.
It means Linfield will advance to a Champions League first qualifying round tie away to Legia Warsaw on August 18.
The club has been advised by @UEFA that this evenings @ChampionsLeague Preliminary Round tie against @FCDRITA has been postponed due to Covid 19 issues within the Kosovan team. Further details will follow once we hear the outcome from UEFA's Disciplinary body.
— Linfield FC (@OfficialBlues) August 11, 2020
UEFA say the second Drita player to test positive did so on Monday, having previously produced a negative test result as recently as Friday (August 7).
The whole squad had tested negative for the virus prior to their trip to Switzerland.
Prior to Friday's 2-1 win over Andorran champions Inter Club d'Escalades, another Drita player had tested positive for COVID-19.
The second positive test comes from a player who had been in contact with the rest of the squad, meaning the Swiss authorities placed the entire Kosovan squad in quarantine.
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