A study revealed that UEFA "risks a breakaway from the Champions League" by the continent’s biggest clubs unless it implements "immediate" and "radical" reforms, according to David Bond of the FINANCIAL TIMES. The report by consultants Oliver & Ohlbaum says UEFA "should reduce the number of teams in Europe’s elite club competition from 32 to 24 to make it more attractive for leading teams" such as ManU and Real Madrid as well as broadcasters such as BT. The report said, "There is a growing perception that as the world’s premier club competition, it could be more appealing to fans and worth much more to broadcasters." Based on consumer research in six European markets as well as America and Singapore, Oliver & Ohlbaum argue that "a revamped format with more focus on the biggest clubs" could lead to a 40% increase in the value of UEFA’s overall media rights.
UEFA "is under pressure from Europe’s top clubs to reform the Champions League and increase the amount of money it generates from television rights." Dalian Wanda Group, the property and entertainment conglomerate run by China’s richest man, Wang Jianlin, "was backing plans to launch a rival to the Champions League." But the report by Oliver & Ohlbaum argues that UEFA "could prevent such a breakaway competition by guaranteeing 20 of the 24 places in a new-look Champions League are drawn from Spain, Italy, England, France and Germany." The remaining four places "would be taken up by the best teams from the rest of Europe’s leagues" (FT, 8/21).
