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Securing the Champions League for the 'top six'

The recently published annual report of the Football Association (available online at Companies House) discusses the changes in European club competition proposed by Uefa to operate from 2024. These have important implications for clubs outside the top six.

The UEFA Champions League would be made up of 32 teams and be selected on the basis of club domestic rankings in the previous four seasons. Beyond the first season one would have to win the domestic league to be guaranteed a place.

In other words, if you finished second in the Premier League you wouldn't be guaranteed a place unless your previous record justified it or you got to the semi-finals of the Europa League (or 'League Two' as it is confusingly termed.

The Europa League of 32 teams would be based on domestic rankings in the previous four seasons. The new Europa Conference League would have 64 teams but would be very much a third ranked competition and would not generate much revenue for clubs. It would also be based on league rankings.

The FA notes, 'The aim of this proposal is to drive increased revenue opportunities, protect elite European club revenue streams , and meet the demands of a growing, international audience.' It is admitted that 'it would result in additional matches for English clubs (eight additional match days) in an already heavily-congested schedule, and would reduce the competition for a "top four" finish in the Premier League, which has become a key feature among the "top six" English clubs.'

Kieran Maguire of the PriceofFootball comments, 'The aim is to prevent the likes of Leicester getting into the top four of the Premier League and taking away what by right should be a place in the Champions League of the existing elite and their plucky billionaire owners.'

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