UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino said that the "much-criticised" 24-team format for Euro 2016 and its new "Week of Football" qualifying competition has added a "new dynamic" to the int'l football calendar, according to Mike Collett of REUTERS. Infantino defended both innovations saying that TV audiences and revenue around the world "would be boosted by the changes while the first round of matches had already produced some surprises." Infantino said at the Leaders In Sport Summit, "It is in line with the objectives of UEFA which are to develop football in Europe. We can move from 16 to 24 because the quality is there in Europe. Of the top 32 teams in the world, 20 are European." As well as more teams qualifying than before, the "Week of Football" concept means that "matches are spread out from Thursday to Tuesday with at least a third of the games being played on weekends." Infantino said that "this gives fans a better chance of following not just their own team but others on TV and this increased television coverage would boost interest, viewing figures and revenue." Infantino: "Until now, we played double-headers with matches on Friday and Tuesday, and we thought why are we leaving the weekend without football? ... Now we start on Thursday with a standard kickoff time and two kickoff times at the weekends, and the reaction has been very positive. The pie is growing and so far we have generated 40 percent more revenue than before" (REUTERS, 10/9). SKY SPORTS reported Infantino has confirmed that "the seeding system in the Champions League will be changed next season." From the '14-15 campaign, the holders plus champions from the top seven ranked European nations "will be in pot one, meaning club co-efficients will not be taken into account for the top seeds." Infantino: "It will be ratified later on by the executive committee but it' s a clear recommendation of the club competition's committee that the seeding system changes in this respect as from next season. The Champions League winners are number one and the seven next placed in pot one are not the seven best ranked in the co-efficient but are the seven champions of the seven top-ranked nations in UEFA. This will give another dynamic with the draw and in the way the groups are composed. It will be approved with the regulations at the start of next year" (SKY SPORTS, 10/9).
