UEFA will be forced by changes to the current Champions League structure on Wednesday, despite good opposition from all over Europe.
Plans to tip with Europe’s best competition have been circulating for several years and have gained momentum in recent months. Those responsible are anxious to shake things up, but there has been a lot of opposition from clubs and fans.
The road to Istanbul is canceled! ?
Which two teams make the final? ? #UCLdraw | #UCL pic.twitter.com/HdgWQRCMHQ
– UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) 19 March 2021
But according to The Times, against UEFA’s latest plans, they have accepted private defeat and expect the committee to vote for radical changes in the Champions League when they meet on Wednesday.
With what has been called the “Swiss system”, there will be 36 teams involved in the competition – four more than at present – where these teams will take part in ten group matches instead of six.
Each club will play five home games and five away games against ten different opponents of different strengths based on seeding, and the results are fed into a huge 32-team league table.
The top eight would then advance to the playoffs automatically, with a playoff tournament for the teams between ninth and 24th to determine the other eight to make it. Those at the bottom would not fall down to the Europa League.
One of the biggest problems with this new system is the availability of the tournament. Two of the extra places will go to the clubs with the best coefficient that have missed the qualifiers for the Champions League through their league but have entered the Europa League, which means that someone like Liverpool would have a better chance of doing so even if they finish lower in the Premier League table.
There is also an obvious pressure that all these matches would put on the domestic calendar. Playing all group games would be difficult enough, but those included in the playoffs tournament will face even more games in a schedule that is already seen as too hectic.
Told that it was 99% certain that the new 36-team Champions League, including the 10-match “Swiss style” first section from 2024 will be agreed and signed within the next 36 hours.
– Simon Stone (@ sistoney67) March 30, 2021
While UEFA officials have argued that the competition needs to be rejuvenated, their proposals have met with strong opposition from a handful of smaller teams who feel that the plans are simply being made to give more power (and money) to the big boys.
Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish claimed the changes would “have a devastating effect on domestic competition”, while Aston Villa Christian Purslow simply labeled them “grossly unfair”.
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