Uefa have announced plans for a third European club competition.
Pending the final approval from the executive committee, the plans will come into effect from the 2021/2022 season and the new competition will sit alongside the Champions League as well as the Europa League which would then increase the overall number of clubs involved in European football to 96.
It’s understood that the Champions League is unlikely to be altered, though the number of teams in the secondary European competition will likely fall from 48 teams to 32. in an attempt to spread the quality out.
That means sides from smaller nations will instead compete in the new tournament, which is apparently set to be shown largely on online platforms.
Juventus chief and European Club Association chairman Andrea Agnelli outlined more details on the proposal.
“These new regulations will be even more effective than the ones we had in place which delivered astonishing results which have just been announced by UEFA,” said Agnelli.
“Pending approval of the UEFA ExCo, the ‘green light’ has been given to introduce a third competition, bringing the overall number of clubs to 96, as of the 2021/22 season.
“A detailed assessment of the existing International Match Calendar is required prior to presenting a new model post-2024. The current model needs modernising.”
The UEFA Europa League Trophy (Image: VALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images)
This idea was first being mooted back in 2015 and could allow the likes of Crystal Palace, Fulham, Watford, West Ham United – and any future promoted London side – better opportunities to reach the main stages of European competition.
In recent seasons, the Hammers have failed to reach the group stages of the Europa League, while the Cottagers did reach the final of the competition way back in 2010.
With the current top six set to dominate for the foreseeable future, the introduction of a third European competition would give the teams battling for a mid-table place an extra incentive to finish higher.
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