UEFA, the European football governing body, is currently discussing Champions League format changes with the clubs. One of the most prominent current proposals is to have just two groups of eight teams after an expanded qualification process. If the proposal will be adopted football fans will have the occasion to watch more matches between the big clubs, as each team in the group stage will have to play a total of 14 matches.
The European Clubs' Association, which represent most of Europe's big clubs, insists on a new format that would increase revenues for the clubs by making the competition more interesting and exciting. However, there will be no changes until the 2018-2019 season as the TV rights have been sold for three years in 2015. The next batch of TV rights will be sold at the end of 2016, so the new format should be agreed by then.
"UEFA is in constant contact with all stakeholders, including the clubs, on all football matters," a UEFA spokesman said. "Therefore, any plans to evolve the format of our club competitions would be coordinated and negotiated together with them. There are currently no concrete proposals on the table since we are at the beginning of a new cycle of our club competitions."
Barcelona are the current favourites to win this season's edition of the Champions League, they are 6/4 at Bet365 to win the trophy.
Milaneli 8 years ago
I just saw this news and it sounds ridiculous. Why the hell would UEFA ever change this current format? What is wrong with that? Qualifications and group stages are extremely fair, everyone has a chance of getting in if he is good enough. Only disagreement that I have are knock out rounds. We saw Chelsea and Juventus leave...
I just saw this news and it sounds ridiculous. Why the hell would UEFA ever change this current format? What is wrong with that? Qualifications and group stages are extremely fair, everyone has a chance of getting in if he is good enough. Only disagreement that I have are knock out rounds. We saw Chelsea and Juventus leave competition if fairly early stages, champions of both England and Italy. And there on other side of the bracket Zenith and Benfica get matched, Genk and Wolfsburg and so on.
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sharpe 8 years ago
I don't understand why everybody are so upset ? CL is the most commercial competition in football and the aim of this tournament is to make more money for all clubs involved, so if they think this way will be a more profitable changing the format all fans have to except that just because they all watching CL even more...
I don't understand why everybody are so upset ? CL is the most commercial competition in football and the aim of this tournament is to make more money for all clubs involved, so if they think this way will be a more profitable changing the format all fans have to except that just because they all watching CL even more because of the commercial side of the tournament. I rarely watch any games in the last years, and one more thing US sport system might be the most commercial one but is also the most successful one. The romantic in football and sport as a whole is dead and berried long time ago.
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h34dhunt3r 8 years ago
This is ridiculous. They are copying USA sports system, where everything is about the money. That would kill football as we know. Just watch fairy tale that Leicester is doing this season.Yes, having 16 big teams playing in standard format of Champions League would be nice to watch, but seeing like 4-5 Barcelona vs Real...
This is ridiculous. They are copying USA sports system, where everything is about the money. That would kill football as we know. Just watch fairy tale that Leicester is doing this season.Yes, having 16 big teams playing in standard format of Champions League would be nice to watch, but seeing like 4-5 Barcelona vs Real Madrid matches per year would kill its hype and anticipation.
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milo?.sekuli? 8 years ago
OK , it's nice to watch the matches of big clubs. But what about the small clubs, which only through the Champions league can earn some serious money? What about the players at small clubs that dream to play the Champions League with Red Star, for example? It seems that, that dream will not come true.
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jakablazic 8 years ago
They want even more money. All people care is money. I like this system and it certainly will change. Everything is getting closer to NBA, basketball Euroleague and now Champions League. Small number of rich clubs is getting richer and large number of poor clubs is getting poorer. It will be almost impossible for my Zvezda...
They want even more money. All people care is money. I like this system and it certainly will change. Everything is getting closer to NBA, basketball Euroleague and now Champions League. Small number of rich clubs is getting richer and large number of poor clubs is getting poorer. It will be almost impossible for my Zvezda and many other clubs to reach group phase of CL.
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