New UEFA competition format suggested which could see Luton v Real Madrid - and it's brilliant

One fan has suggested a new UEFA Europa Conference League format which could see the likes of Luton play Real Madrid.

The competition, which acts as the third tier of continental club football in Europe, was introduced in 2021.

UEFA originally decided to create the tournament in 2015, reportedly believing that a lower-level tournament could help lower-ranked UEFA member countries progress beyond their expected elimination from the Champions League and Europa League.

The winners of the Conference League automatically qualify for the Europa League, however the competition is often seen as far less important than it's two sister tournaments.

As a result, one fan has theorised a new way of playing the Conference League, suggesting it should be played in a single elimination style featuring a range of teams, big and medium-sized.

Taking to social media to share his bold idea, Twitter user Ted Knutson wrote: "The UEFA Conference League should be a single elim tournament featuring every team from every big and medium-size league with random draws.

"The goal of the Conf League seemed to be to get more teams participating, at the cost of prize pools etc.

"You can obviously seed this a bit and have the biggest teams enter later, but get them ALL involved and watch the Cinderella storylines unfold. And FANS will travel.

"Luton vs Real Madrid at Luton. Nordjaelland vs AC Milan. Some day we could finally find out how foreign teams perform on a rainy night in Stoke."

Aston Villa are currently the Premier League's representatives competing in the Conference League, and are level with Polish side Legia at the top of Group E on nine points after four games.