A historic vote on changes to the Champions League from 2024 has been delayed following increased pushback on the most controversial and potentially damaging proposals.
Uefa’s Executive Committee will meet on Wednesday when confirmation of reforms had been expected to be ratified, but the governing body now says an “official decision” will be made on 19 April instead.
The Premier League and European Leagues, a body which represents 37 professional leagues in 30 countries and more than 1,000 clubs, are against plans to increase group stage games from six to 10 and attempts to offer qualification places on an “historical co-efficient” basis.
i can reveal that there is also concern at the Premier League that there could still be Champions League games scheduled in January – a period they believe should be kept free for domestic football. There has, however, been an indication that Champions League matches will still not be played at weekends.
Furthermore, objectors to areas of the plans would like to see fewer matches than the number being proposed. The increase in matches would see total Champions League season rise from 125 to 225 games, a move that could badly impact the League Cup and FA Cup. The EFL fears the existence of its marquee competition is under threat, while the FA Cup could see increasingly weakened teams fielded in future as club’s seek to rest players.
The current proposals to increase the Champions League from 32 to 36 teams – all placed in one league under the “Swiss Model” format – would include three of the four additional places being handed to big clubs who have historically performed well in the Champions League. It could mean that a team from outside the “Big Six” finishing fourth in the Premier League, but one of the “Big Six” clubs finishing as far back as seventh and stealing the fourth Champions League spot from them.
Such a scenario, if voted through, would be likely to cause outrage amongst Premier League fans.
There is hope the idea will be scrapped and that qualification for the Champions League will remain solely based on final league position, protecting the integrity of league competition. Those additional Champions League qualifications could, instead, be handed to leagues in smaller or less wealthy countries.
A vote was intended for Wednesday’s meeting for final confirmation of all reforms to the Champions League after 2024, but the more controversial elements of the plans will be debated further instead amidst fierce objections from critics.
Provided all goes to plan, the following Executive Committee meeting will include a vote “in order to finalise ongoing discussions”, Uefa said in a statement.
During Wednesday’s meeting, discussion topics will also include: a proposal to allow five substitutions at this summer’s delayed Euro 2020 tournament and the 2021 Nations League Finals, exploring the possibility of letting spectators into Uefa games and the system of selecting teams to play in the 2022 Fifa Women’s Under-20 World Cup.
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3fvbD0e
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