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There Are Plans To Make 'Radical Changes' To UEFA Champions League

There Are Plans To Make 'Radical Changes' To UEFA Champions League

UEFA is being pushed by the ECA to make radical changes to the competition after 2024...

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare

In terms of clout, the UEFA Champions League is the biggest, best and most popular club competition in world football, without doubt.

For years now, this competition has maintained a clear and consistent format, but things could be about to change in the coming years.

It is believed that The European Club Association (ECA) will push UEFA to make 'radical' changes to the competition after 2024, report The Times.

So what do they want to alter?

Image: PA
Image: PA

ECA want to revamp the format of the competition, which is now eight groups of four teams, to four groups of eight teams.

That would mean 14 group games would be played instead of six for each team, which will include a promotion and relegation system.

The 24 teams who qualify from these groups would automatically qualify for the next season's competition, meaning other clubs would have to fight for the remaining eight spots.

There are also fears that UEFA will bow to the demands of their biggest clubs, including staging matches on weekends.

Ramos holds aloft the Champions League trophy. Image: PA
Ramos holds aloft the Champions League trophy. Image: PA

This could potentially be a massive strain on European clubs, who will have to juggle playing in their respected leagues, as well as the Champions League.

Another 'radical' change that has been proposed is to effectively remove the qualifying process, meaning that smaller clubs would be pushed out.

Whether these plans will go down well with fans is another question as Premier League clubs battling for a top four place could be a thing of the past.

The Times report that these changes could be the biggest threat to the Premier League:

"The possibility of changing the qualification for the Champions League is the biggest threat to the English domestic competition because the race for the top four is viewed as one of the main driving forces of supporter interest." they write.

Thoughts on the above plans? Would they work?

Let us know in the comments.

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Topics: SPORT, Football News, Football, Champions League