Fans claim ‘football is dead’ after new details of Champions League emerge

Fans have voiced their concerns after new details of the newly revamped UEFA Champions League emerged.

From the 24/25 season onwards, the Champions League will have a completely new format.

A single group of 36 teams will replace the format of eight groups of four, with each side playing eight matches during the new group stage. Four will be at home and four away.

Following the group stage, all teams will be formatted into a table with the top eight sides automatically qualifying for the round of 16 while clubs finishing between ninth and 24th will enter a play-off round for the eight remaining places.

Once that process has commenced, ongoings in the Champions League will proceed as normal with a two-legged round of 16, quarter-final and semi-final before the eventual final.

According to COPE journalist Arancha Rodriguez, via Madrid Xtra on social media, who wrote: “The first game day will be played Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

“The last game day will be played all at the same time.”

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Reacting on social media, one fan said: “Barca fans won’t spot a difference they are used to play on thursday nights.”

Another tweeted: “They are ruining the sport, why should a UCL game be played on a Thursday.”

A third fan added: “Champions League on a Thursday? Football is dead.”

Someone else wrote: ““Super League is a bad idea because it will ruin the sport” and then they come up with this.”

Two years ago, Jurgen Klopp was asked about the new Champions League format, he said: “Who read this concept properly and says ‘oh that’s perfect’ and who tells me now that’s not about money? It’s a joke!

“I said before with the Nations League with more games, I said before when FIFA wanted to have a Club World Cup – they don’t ask, they just introduce it. What’s the reason for that? Money.”