Champions League qualification could soon be decided by a club’s history and not their league position, according to reports.
Top flight teams may be able to qualify for the Champions League without needed to finish in the Premier League top four or lifting the Champions League / Europa League titles.
The formation of the European Super League made the headlines earlier last year, however the idea was quickly dropped by nine of the 12 forming clubs due to heavy backlash from fans which led to protests outside stadiums and on the pitch.
It is now reported by The Guardian that a number of clubs including 10 in the Premier League have proposed two Champions League places to be decided on the UEFA coefficient rankings.
The fresh proposal would mean that clubs qualifying for the Europa League or winning their domestic Cup, could seal a Champions League berth based on coefficient over the last five campaign.
While the discussions are still ongoing over the matter, it could face fresh criticism from smaller clubs in particular as the ranking will no doubt favour the bigger teams in the short-term.
All “Big Six” clubs are currently ranked within the top 15 of the coefficient list and there is a real certainty that Manchester City, United, Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal and Chelsea would all qualify for the Champions League if the proposal is approved by UEFA.
The decision is unlikely to be made anytime soon however, but if the proposal is accepted by UEFA, it could come into effect for the new Champions League format announced for the 2024/25 campaign.
The plans are likely to be discussed this week, when UEFA holds its General Assembly in Vienna, Austria, but concerns over sporting integrity of course remain, yet UEFA President Alexander Ceferin tried to reassure listeners at a recent event by ensuring any change to the Champions League qualification process would bring “more places for smaller and mainly mid-sized leagues”.
This would likely benefit the big leagues in Europe and offer a potential safety net for struggling historical giants in countries such as England, Spain and Italy – rather than providing much help for teams from mid-ranked or lower-ranked leagues. Imagine the uproar.
This would be unfair advantage for teams in ‘better’ leagues, say SPORTbible, which is why such plans were being discussed at the same time as the European Super League last spring.
With the Champions League controlled by UEFA, it’s for them to ultimately decide, especially if it benefits them money wise.
It’s fair to say stakeholders will be listening as to what comes out of the meeting Vienna this week – where UEFA will next address the plans.
Fan groups are resistant to the idea. One group, named Football Supporters’ Europe, have launched an initiative named “Win it on the Pitch” that is urging the European Union (EU) to block proposals of this nature.
“The wave of indignation, solidarity and unity that followed the Super League must now be followed by a clear, concrete and long-term action plan at EU level,” read a statement. “Sport is a social good that belongs to everyone – not just the rich and elite.
“It is therefore now more important than ever that the EU institutions, member states and politicians work together with fans and concerned citizens to protect football and other sports across the continent.”
Social media users reacted at reports Champions League qualification could soon be decided by a club’s history…
@Generali11: The whole thing is to ensure teams like Arsenal get into the UCL and teams like Leicester don’t. Heaven forbid sport should be a meritocracy. The Champions League without the champions.
@NUFCLC: No one cares anymore. Let them all go. If you’re only watching the PL/CL for these clubs you shouldn’t be watching it anyway. Let the proper clubs regain their league, I honestly couldn’t care less and I’m sure most fans in the PL feel the same.
@adclash: Go back 30 years and winning the European Cup was the pinnacle of club football. A change like this would be the final nail in that prestige, maybe making winning the league the top honour again. Not such a bad thing?
@soupycup: Make no mistake, this rule is only there to benefit the big clubs who may have an off season and miss qualification the usual way. Can’t have a ‘big’ club going without champions league money
@oshnewport: The beginning of the end. What a slow, lingering death this will be.
@mark_kelly256: The European League re-emerges? Football is a simple game with (mostly) simple laws; there are simple rules for qualification, keep them – if you’re good enough, you’re in, if not you have to improve?
If these 2 teams want in then they start at prelim round , so that’s 5 qualifying rounds starting in June for them – CL has been ruined for years. You want a more open , elite tournament- make it only for champions , the way it was wasn’t broken , greed and seedings won
— Rangers2/5/99 (@Rangers2599) March 28, 2022
@raymondwhatlike: Surely a champions league is for champions? This is a European elite league. Which is fine, if they would just call it that. They won’t, it’s boring. Knock out cup competition is what fans want. Sponsors want as much game time as possible. they will break the spirit of the tournament for greed.
@puds68: Sod it, let them go. Sick and tired of these clubs holding football to ransome. Let them have their superleagues and play their rich spoilt boys games. I won’t be watching.
@JulianCBaker: I liked the idea of the fair play winner getting a Europa League spot, but this proposition is counter to financial fair play. Uncertainty is fundamental to football, so this would just reward beaten clubs. Bloody football oligarchs.
@chris_mctigue: Hell no, greedy owners need to keep their nose out of these affairs. They don’t understand sport and what makes it great. Football needs to rid of all these rats using the sport to sportwash/line their own pocket before they ruin it for everyone.
@MGbutlufchappy: Tell em to f*ck off.
@EllisRomero: No. No. No. No. They are just tone deaf.
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