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Biggest Clubs In Europe Want Early Knockout Round In Champions League

The "most radical change" to the Champions League in 20 years is being proposed by a group of clubs "aimed at creating a tournament that guarantees more matches between the top sides in Europe," according to Martyn Ziegler of the LONDON TIMES. A plan "has been hatched" for a knockout round to be held for 32 clubs before the group stage, with the 16 winners going through into two groups of eight teams. Each club would then have 14 matches "against top European opposition with each group winner going through to a final." The idea has "already won support among some continental clubs" -- especially those that "are worried about being left behind financially by Premier League sides when their enormous TV revenues come on stream next season." Real Madrid and Barcelona have made "little secret about wanting more income from the Champions League and fewer European matches against minnows from smaller nations." There is "less desire for change among the Premier League clubs." The proposal has yet to be put to UEFA or the European Club Association. However "time is running out with pressure for changes to be agreed by September when negotiations will begin with sponsors and broadcasters for the next round of TV rights." A source close to the talks said, "The Champions League is losing audiences and interest lately -- you have seen that at games like Real Madrid versus BATE Borisov. The group system in the future needs to ensure that there are more interesting games and less uninteresting ones -- if you have two groups of eight, every team in these groups have 14 very good games" (LONDON TIMES, 3/24). In London, Jason Burt wrote if that happened "it would be a step closer to the creation of some kind of ‘European Super League’ with the bigger clubs being effectively guaranteed more matches -- at least 14 in all -- in the competition because they would play each other home and away in an extended league-format." However, the changes would not take effect until after the '17-18 season "as the club competitions tend to work in three-year cycles." Creating two leagues of eight clubs would mean "abolishing the present so-called ‘round of 16’ which, it is accepted, is not working in its present guise." It is "too spread out over a number of weeks" (TELEGRAPH, 3/23). Also in London, Jamie Jackson reported a UEFA spokesperson said, "UEFA is in constant contact with all stakeholders, including the clubs, on all football matters. 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 (2015-18) of our club competitions" (GUARDIAN, 3/23). The BBC reported the Champions League "replaced the European Cup," which was a straight knockout competition, in '92 (BBC, 3/24).

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