BSP-23 Premier League voices fears over proposed Champions League reforms

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Premier League voices fears over proposed Champions League reforms

LONDON, April 5, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – The Premier League voiced “significant
concerns” over potential reforms to the Champions League on Friday, saying
the changes would damage the thriving domestic game.

Reported reforms being put forward for further discussion include changing
the current group stage from eight groups of four to four groups of eight,
guaranteeing clubs far more Champions League games from 2024.

A tiered system involving relegation and promotion could see the top six
teams of each group automatically qualify for the following year’s
competition rather than through their domestic leagues, while UEFA president
Aleksander Ceferin denied reports games could be played at weekends.

“All 20 Premier League clubs today discussed their ‘significant concerns’
regarding reported proposals for changing the format and qualification
criteria of UEFA club competitions from season 2024/25,” the Premier League
said in a statement.

“All clubs unanimously agreed it is inappropriate for European football
bodies to create plans that would alter the structures, calendar and
competitiveness of the domestic game and will work together to protect the
Premier League.”

The Premier League is one of the most competitive domestic competitions
with its top six of Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea,
Arsenal and Tottenham fighting for just four places in the Champions League
every season.

All six are still involved in European competition this season, with City,
United, Liverpool and Tottenham in next week’s Champions League quarter-
finals, and Arsenal and Chelsea are in the Europa League last eight.

However, it is believed leading clubs on the continent are seeking change
to combat the Premier League’s advantage over its European competitors from
more lucrative TV rights deals.

“In England, football plays an important role in our culture and everyday
life,” the statement added.

“Millions of fans attend matches across the country, with allegiances and
local rivalries often passed down through generations. We have a fantastic
combination of competitive football and committed fans that we will
vigorously defend.”

The Premier League are not alone in standing up to the proposals, with
senior officials in the Spanish and German leagues also stating their
disapproval.

Alberto Colombo, spokesman for European Leagues, which represents domestic
competitions across the continent, told AFP that the members “absolutely want
to protect our weekend games and our leagues”.

The reforms are set to be discussed by UEFA’s Club Competitions Committee
next month.

BSS/AFP/BZC/2045HRS