Image Source : GETTY IMAGES Plans to rework the competitors from 2024 can be mentioned by European home leagues on Friday and the 55 nationwide affiliation leaders can be briefed by UEFA on Tuesday.
UEFA is getting ready a major enlargement of the Champions League with a proposal for 4 further group-stage rounds and backup slots for elite golf equipment who fail to qualify by way of home competitions.
Plans to rework the competitors from 2024 can be mentioned by European home leagues on Friday and the 55 nationwide affiliation leaders can be briefed by UEFA on Tuesday.
The overhaul is UEFA’s technique to rebuff plans to launch a largely closed breakaway competitors — which has been pushed by Barcelona and Real Madrid — and keep qualification by way of home leagues.
UEFA’s proposal is to extend the variety of group-stage contributors from 32 to 36, with every crew assured 10 fairly than six video games, three individuals conversant in the plans advised The Associated Press. The individuals spoke on situation of anonymity to debate plans not publicly disclosed.
England, Spain, Italy and Germany at the moment have 4 assured slots within the group stage. But main groups who don’t make the highest 4 of their leagues might nonetheless qualify, with three of the extra group-stage slots lined up for such groups based mostly on their historic file in Europe.
The fourth further spot might go to France, which at the moment solely has two assured group-stage slots whereas a 3rd crew has to undergo qualifying.
The present format of eight teams would even be reworked, with UEFA as a substitute utilizing a variation of the so-called “Swiss system.”
All 36 groups can be positioned right into a single league desk, with opponents decided based mostly on pre-season rating positions.
The high eight would qualify routinely for the spherical of 16 with the subsequent 16 groups probably contesting a playoff to fill the opposite slots within the knockout part. The plans have been mentioned by Premier League golf equipment at a digital assembly on Thursday.
The European Leagues group might resist the soar from six to 10 video games within the group stage due to the battle to slot in further video games within the congested calendar. But European Leagues chairman Lars-Christer Olsson in December confirmed a willingness to again the plan.
“I think it could be possible to squeeze another four dates into the calendar,” he mentioned.
Breakaway league plans have usually been leaked previously 20 years when golf equipment have wished Champions League modifications of their favor.
The proposed modifications might assure each UEFA and golf equipment elevated TV revenues and prize cash as it could produce 180 group-stage video games to promote to broadcasters as a substitute of 96.
