The merger of the European football leagues has again spoken out against parts of the reform of the European Cup competitions from 2024.
“The leagues are the backbone of European football,” said Claus Thomsen, chairman of the European Leagues during a press conference. Specifically, he criticized the significant increase in the number of Champions League games and the suggestion that two clubs can qualify for the premier class based on their past successes in European competition.
Last year, the European Football Union decided on the reform from the 2024/25 season. Instead of 32, 36 teams will take part in the group stage of the Champions League, which will then be played in a league system. There will be 100 more games in total.
“Such an increase will harm the vast majority of clubs and benefit very few,” said Thomsen, pointing to the good exchange with UEFA. The UEFA Executive Committee meets in Vienna in mid-May, as does the UEFA Congress.
From the point of view of the merger of the leagues, which also includes the German Football League DFL, only “sporting criteria” should decide on qualification. “That’s the heart and soul of football. That’s why fans get excited about football every weekend,” said Thomsen.
According to the criticized proposal, two clubs would not qualify for the Champions League based on their placement in the league, but – if they miss the European Cup starting place – via the coefficient of previous years. That would be a kind of safety net for big clubs that are having a bad season.