Questions have been asked of what the Football Association is doing to push back against Champions League reforms that threaten the competitiveness of English football.
i revealed on Wednesday that the prospect of a member of the Premier League “Big Six” finishing outside the top four yet taking a qualification place away from another side remains on the table.
Such a move would pose a serious threat to the competitiveness of the Premier League, and the reforms, which would come into effect from 2024, could be voted upon by Uefa’s Executive Committee and confirmed as early as next week, i has been told by one source familiar with the situation.
Another issue of major concern is the current proposal for the group stage to increase from six to 10 games per club, which would add an extra 100 Champions League games onto the calendar. This presents the real possibility that clubs would field weakened teams in – and even threatens the existence of – the EFL Cup and FA Cup.
The Our Beautiful Game campaign group, which has the backing of former Manchester United and England defender Gary Neville and former FA chairman David Bernstein, released a document last night voicing their concerns about the situation.
“We believe that the potential impact of the current proposals in England is substantial,” the document read. “But yet again nobody appears to be speaking about them on behalf of English football as a whole. Nobody seems to be seeking to mitigate their excesses and explaining how the proposals are positive for clubs outside the top six.
“If these proposals are to be voted on within weeks, where is the governing body of the game, the Football Association?”
The campaign group are calling for the Government to create an independent regulator of English football, and added: “It is hard to think of a better example, following on from football’s failure to speak with one voice through the pandemic, as to why the game urgently needs a truly independent regulator.
“To speak with authority on the seismic issues impacting our national sport. To stand up for the interests of all the game at all levels. To bring fairness and sustainability to football in our country.”
Another issue of contention is that the substantial increase in Champions League games will drive up European broadcast rights and therefore reduce future domestic television deals, further impacting those clubs who do not qualify for the Champions League.
“It will make access to the highest echelons of the football pyramid harder still for aspirational clubs lower down,” the document continued. “Such an event will merely reinforce the hegemony of the top six clubs.
“The ‘historical qualification’ proposal is anti-competitive and aimed at guaranteeing Champions League football for the bigger clubs.”
The FA declined to comment.
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from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3w05nU4
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