2016 UEFA changes
In 2016, UEFA again discussed the possibility of creating a closed league containing the 16 best teams in European football from the highest ranked national leagues.
These 16 teams would have been divided into 2 groups, with 8 teams in each group. After 56 games in each group under the round-robin system, the teams that finished in places 1-4 would qualify for the quarter-finals. That plan was finally rejected and UEFA, in order to avoid the creation of a super league, made changes to the structure of the UEFA Champions League.
UEFA announced that, for the trade cycle 2018–21, England, Italy, Spain and Germany would have 4 teams in the UEFA Champions League group stage without having to compete in play-offs. This means that the number of direct places will be increased from 22 to 26. The 6 remaining places will come from the champions' path (down from 5 teams to 4 teams) and the non-champions' path (down from 5 teams to 2 teams).
If the title holder of this competition qualifies for the Champions League from its domestic league, the champion of the country with the 11th placed UEFA coefficient will go through into the UEFA Champions League group stage; if not, the title holder has the right to defend the trophy.
UEFA Europa League defending champions also acquire the right to compete in the UEFA Champions League group stage, without the opportunity of directly securing a play-off berth as in the 2015–18 trade cycle agreements. If the UEFA Europa League champion automatically qualifies for the UEFA Champions League group stage via its domestic league, the third ranked team of the country with the 5th placed UEFA coefficient will replace the UEL winner.[9]
2018 leaks
In November 2018, Football Leaks claimed that there had been undercover talks about the creation of a new continental club competition, the European Super League, in 2021.[10] Which ultimately did occur.[11]
2020 proposed European Premier League
In October 2020, Sky Sports claimed that FIFA was proposing a replacement for the UEFA Champions League called the European Premier League involving up to 18 teams in a round-robin system and post league playoff style knockout tournament with no relegation similar to major league sports competitions in the United States such as the NHL, NFL, NBA and MLB.[12] English Premier League clubs as well as clubs from Spain, Italy, France and Germany have been invited. Barcelona has accepted the proposal for it to join the Super League, the day before its president Josep Maria Bartomeu resigned.[13]
However, on 21 January 2021, FIFA and all six of football's continental confederations (AFC, CAF, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, OFC and UEFA) issued a statement rejecting the formation of any breakaway European Super League. Any club or player involved in such a league would be banned from any competitions organised by FIFA or any of the six confederations.[1] The proposal nevertheless remains under discussion by clubs such as Manchester United and Liverpool; the proposal document indicates that such a league would start in the 2022–23 season, with 15 permanent members including six Premier League clubs, and each club would be paid up to £310m to join followed by up to £213m per season.[14]
en.wikipedia.org
European Super League: Uefa and Premier League condemn 12 major clubs signing up to breakaway plans
European Super League plans set to be announced - six English teams involved, Sky News understands
The move to create a rival league is being seen by some in football as a surprise after the European Club Association (ECA), which represents 246 of the continent's leading clubs, gave their backing to UEFA's reforms.
UEFA has proposed an increase to 36 from 32 teams in the Champions League, and an overhaul of the group stage into a single table rather than the current groups of four clubs.
Teams would play 10 matches each in the group stage rather than the six they currently play and a playoff round would also be introduced before the last 16.
There have been reports of a plan for a breakaway league for a number of years and the speculation returned in January with several media reports that a document had been produced outlining the plans for a 20-team league.
Those reports led FIFA and UEFA to warn they would ban any players involved in a breakaway from playing in the World Cup or European Championship.
www.skysports.com
Sir Alex Ferguson
"To talk about a Super League is to move away from 70 years of European football. In my time at United, we played four Champions League finals and it was always the most special night. Fans all over the world love the competition as it is." -
BBC Sport
The UK government has condemned the reported proposals for a breakaway European Super League in football. "We are concerned this plan could create a closed shop at the very top of our national game," said Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden.
do you support the big teams in Europe to form their own league where they are guaranteed a spot for the next 20 years despite the position they finish in their leagues?
will this kill off football and fairy stories like Leicester, Westham..... from even trying to win the league or finish in the European positions?
In 2016, UEFA again discussed the possibility of creating a closed league containing the 16 best teams in European football from the highest ranked national leagues.
These 16 teams would have been divided into 2 groups, with 8 teams in each group. After 56 games in each group under the round-robin system, the teams that finished in places 1-4 would qualify for the quarter-finals. That plan was finally rejected and UEFA, in order to avoid the creation of a super league, made changes to the structure of the UEFA Champions League.
UEFA announced that, for the trade cycle 2018–21, England, Italy, Spain and Germany would have 4 teams in the UEFA Champions League group stage without having to compete in play-offs. This means that the number of direct places will be increased from 22 to 26. The 6 remaining places will come from the champions' path (down from 5 teams to 4 teams) and the non-champions' path (down from 5 teams to 2 teams).
If the title holder of this competition qualifies for the Champions League from its domestic league, the champion of the country with the 11th placed UEFA coefficient will go through into the UEFA Champions League group stage; if not, the title holder has the right to defend the trophy.
UEFA Europa League defending champions also acquire the right to compete in the UEFA Champions League group stage, without the opportunity of directly securing a play-off berth as in the 2015–18 trade cycle agreements. If the UEFA Europa League champion automatically qualifies for the UEFA Champions League group stage via its domestic league, the third ranked team of the country with the 5th placed UEFA coefficient will replace the UEL winner.[9]
2018 leaks
In November 2018, Football Leaks claimed that there had been undercover talks about the creation of a new continental club competition, the European Super League, in 2021.[10] Which ultimately did occur.[11]
2020 proposed European Premier League
In October 2020, Sky Sports claimed that FIFA was proposing a replacement for the UEFA Champions League called the European Premier League involving up to 18 teams in a round-robin system and post league playoff style knockout tournament with no relegation similar to major league sports competitions in the United States such as the NHL, NFL, NBA and MLB.[12] English Premier League clubs as well as clubs from Spain, Italy, France and Germany have been invited. Barcelona has accepted the proposal for it to join the Super League, the day before its president Josep Maria Bartomeu resigned.[13]
However, on 21 January 2021, FIFA and all six of football's continental confederations (AFC, CAF, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, OFC and UEFA) issued a statement rejecting the formation of any breakaway European Super League. Any club or player involved in such a league would be banned from any competitions organised by FIFA or any of the six confederations.[1] The proposal nevertheless remains under discussion by clubs such as Manchester United and Liverpool; the proposal document indicates that such a league would start in the 2022–23 season, with 15 permanent members including six Premier League clubs, and each club would be paid up to £310m to join followed by up to £213m per season.[14]
European Super League - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
European Super League: Uefa and Premier League condemn 12 major clubs signing up to breakaway plans
European Super League plans set to be announced - six English teams involved, Sky News understands
The move to create a rival league is being seen by some in football as a surprise after the European Club Association (ECA), which represents 246 of the continent's leading clubs, gave their backing to UEFA's reforms.
UEFA has proposed an increase to 36 from 32 teams in the Champions League, and an overhaul of the group stage into a single table rather than the current groups of four clubs.
Teams would play 10 matches each in the group stage rather than the six they currently play and a playoff round would also be introduced before the last 16.
There have been reports of a plan for a breakaway league for a number of years and the speculation returned in January with several media reports that a document had been produced outlining the plans for a 20-team league.
Those reports led FIFA and UEFA to warn they would ban any players involved in a breakaway from playing in the World Cup or European Championship.
European Super League plans set to be announced - six English teams involved, Sky News understands
Liverpool, Man Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City and Tottenham are understood to be involved in plans for a European Super League; Premier League and UEFA robustly condemn the proposals; PM Boris Johnson opposed to plans; a number of top Italian and Spanish clubs are believed to be involved
Sir Alex Ferguson
"To talk about a Super League is to move away from 70 years of European football. In my time at United, we played four Champions League finals and it was always the most special night. Fans all over the world love the competition as it is." -
BBC Sport
The UK government has condemned the reported proposals for a breakaway European Super League in football. "We are concerned this plan could create a closed shop at the very top of our national game," said Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden.
do you support the big teams in Europe to form their own league where they are guaranteed a spot for the next 20 years despite the position they finish in their leagues?
will this kill off football and fairy stories like Leicester, Westham..... from even trying to win the league or finish in the European positions?
