Uefa In Champions League Talks
Michael Platini, the UEFA president, has announced that Europe’s football governing body is in the process of discussing the future of the Europa League, which could be scrapped in favour of an expanded Champions League.
Platini admitted that the option of disbanding the Europa League was being debated, saying: ‘There is an ongoing debate to determine what form the European competitions will have between 2015 and 2018. We’re discussing it; we will make a decision in 2014. Nothing is decided yet.’
The changes to European football could see the Champions League expanded from 32 to 64 teams. The Europa League has been the subject of sustained criticism in recent years, with its critics arguing that the tournament provides no financial incentives for participating teams. 2012 Champions League winners Chelsea earned 6 times more than Atletico de Madrid who secured 10.52m Euros by winning the Europa League.
Platini also dismissed speculation that some European club’s could form a breakaway league in protest of the changes, saying: ‘It’s a question that is regularly brought up. It doesn’t worry me. I can’t see how it could work outside the UEFA framework. Who will referee them? In what stadiums will they play? A lot of people want them? I don’t think so.’
