UEFA HAS DRAFTED a controversial plan to introduce promotion and relegation to the Champions League at a meeting at its Swiss headquarters in Nyon, sources told AFP today.
There would be four groups of eight teams from 2024 if the proposal is put into action, meaning it would significantly increase the number of European matches and favour bigger clubs.
But Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin has played down the plan, saying: “What is important to remember, is that, despite a lot of talk in the media, no decisions have been made. At the moment we have only ideas and opinions.”
The revamped tournament would not see games played at weekends, which would have sparked uproar among the domestic leagues.
The top five teams in each group would be automatically qualified for the next edition, effectively making the Champions League far harder for clubs from smaller countries to play in.
Change to European club tournaments has become a controversial issue after Andrea Agnelli, the president of the European Club Association (ECA), outlined proposals for a “pan-European league system” that would greatly reduce the number of teams qualifying from domestic competitions.
The Uefa drafts suggest a move in that direction, although the number of clubs in the Champions League would remain at 32.
In recent seasons, the group stage has featured eight pools of four teams.
The ECA demanded on Tuesday that Uefa “properly include” it in any plans to change Europe’s elite competition.
“When the Champions League was last changed in 2016, Uefa was criticised for not holding discussions with its stakeholders,” added Ceferin.
When I became president shortly afterwards, I insisted that any future changes should be subject to consultation and today’s meeting is further evidence of that.”
European football’s governing body has already been criticised for changing the qualifying criteria for the Champions League, with the top four sides from each of the continent’s big four leagues — England, Spain, Italy and Germany — automatically qualifying for this season’s group stage.
Ajax play Tottenham tonight for a place in the Champions League final against Liverpool on June 1 in Madrid, after Jurgen Klopp’s side’s remarkable comeback against Barcelona.
Ajax were one of the teams hit hardest by the most recent Champions League changes. They had to come through three qualifying rounds just to make the group stage earlier this campaign.
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Can’t disagree with his point but just hard to take when we’ve a pick of a 21/2 mile radius. How can we ever match the Dublin clubs.
In reality it’s up to the player himself, my own opinion would be to play with my home club if I could. I wouldn’t be a fan of lads who would transfer to a bigger club or a higher level but it’s their choice of they want to do that.
It’s a tough one. Lads have careers & families and may not be able to commit to the travel involved if they are living in Dublin and playing with their hometown club. Playing with the club 5 minutes away is more practical.
In saying that, no reason why these players have to play in the Provincial championships. Let them play league and ch’ship in Dublin, but you use home-grown players beyond that.
How can we ever match Dublin clubs? €€€€€€ is the only way…..
You can disagree, they signed former dub eamonn fennell from o’tooles who are five mins away from Vincent’s. And another of their better players came from o tooles.
Parnells got awful stick for imports, it didn’t work out for them and they are back to the right way now. Plunketts vinnies ballymun shipping lads in!
All the top clubs are the same, Kerry club Dr.Crokes centre back Alan o sullivan is an import and rumor is the Crokes have approached this years kerry minor Clifford to transfer and he probably will if the terms are right!!:-):-):-):-
Does Eamon Fennell still play?
Not sure saw him on crutches though