Uefa President Aleksander Ceferin, who last year called the European Super League a “disgraceful, self-serving” plan, has overseen proposals for a revamped 36-team Champions League
A Premier League support group has accused Uefa of trying to return to the “discredited idea of a European Super League” with their Champions League redesign plans.
Last year, a 12-team European Super League was announced.
However, all but three clubs – Juventus, Real Madrid and Barcelona – withdrew after widespread protests.
around the same time Uefa presented plans for a revamped 36-team Champions League from 2024.
The expanded competition will increase the number of group stage matches from six to ten and reserve two qualifying spots to allow clubs to enter on the basis of historical European performances rather than national performances.
Uefa’s Executive Committee is due to make a final decision on the plans on May 10, but the Football Supporters’ Association Premier League Network said the proposed 36-team tournament would “entrench the richest clubs, damage the English football pyramid and rip off fans”.
“We are united against proposals to reform the Champions League, which are a backdoor attempt to return to the discredited idea of a European Super League,” read the FSA Premier League Network statement.
“Last year it was our fan groups that came together to force the collapse of the European Super League. Back then, Uefa told us that the fans were the heart of the game and promised that the fans’ views would be at the heart of deciding what comes next.
During last season’s Champions League quarter-finals against Manchester City, a banner opposing the Champions League reforms hung in the stands of Borussia Dortmund’s stadium
“Therefore we now face with great dismay the prospect of changes to the Champions League which will mean many more group games will be played and some clubs will enter on the basis of a historic five-year ‘Uefa club coefficient’.
“These proposals will only widen the gap between rich clubs and the rest, while ruining domestic league calendars with the expectation that fans will sacrifice even more time and money to attend meaningless group games.”
Uefa proposals “irresponsible and contactless”
In the new format, 36 clubs qualify for an extended first phase, in which all clubs play 10 opponents of different strengths.
This results in a league table with the top eight qualifying for the knockout stage and the next 16 going into a play-off to determine the remaining eight places.
Under his latest suggestion, teams could only qualify via the coefficient if they finished just outside the regular Champions League spots, to avoid overtaking rivals who finished in a higher position.
But the FSA Premier League Network statement said such plans were “irresponsible and out of touch” and that it could double the number of home games in the group stage in a competition that favors the continent’s richest boys.
“Premier League fans do not want ten group games involving a small cartel of rich clubs to further distort the competitive balance,” the statement added.
“We want strong, competitive national leagues, an equal chance for all to qualify for UEFA competitions on the basis of sporting merit, and a fairer distribution of the wealth of the game from the revenue these competitions generate.
“Last year we had constructive talks with Uefa President (Aleksander) Ceferin, who has pledged to listen to fans in this process. Our common voice is unified and our position clear.
“We call on Uefa to demonstrate that they are acting in the interests of the wider football community and its fans, not just the few wealthy investors and state clubs that tried to destroy European football less than a year ago and as a family. “
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