Champions League plan hit by last-minute delay

A VOTE on radical reforms of the Champions League has been postponed amid reports of widespread disquiet at the proposals.

Uefa’s executive committee had been expected to vote in an increase of 100 matches today in a new-look format which would come into effect from 2024.

But European football’s governing body said yesterday the decision had been pushed back to the next ExCo meeting on April 19 ‘in order to finalise ongoing discussions’. It has been reported the delay has been caused by a disagreement over control of commercial rights between Uefa and the European Club Association.

However, there are also known to be misgivings about the effect of the increase in games from a number of domestic leagues while changes to protect the status of established clubs has raised the ire of some more modest outfits.

The changes amount to the biggest shift in the competition’s structure for decades. Uefa had proposed an increase from 32 to 36 teams, with the clubs competing in one league rather than eight groups of four.

Each side would play ten matches with the top eight qualifying for the last 16.

Europe’s domestic leagues, through the European Leagues umbrella body, had expressed their opposition to the number of games – an increase from 125 to 225 matches – and the impact that would have on the calendar.

The Premier League is also understood to have concerns over Uefa’s proposals for changes to qualification.

Two of the extra four places would be awarded on historic performance, offering a safety net to big clubs missing out on Champions League qualification via the conventional route.

It would open the prospect of teams leapfrogging higher-placed domestic rivals to take a more lucrative Champions League spot instead of the Europa League.