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League representatives unanimous regarding Platini's plan
FIFA & UEFA - 24 September, 2007
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At a meeting in Paris, European football league representatives were undivided in its concern about UEFA president Michel Platini's, plan to change the set up of UEFA's Champions League competition.
Very few like the idea that domestic cup winners would play in the competition at the cost of clubs that qualified from the league system.
"I would not like to use the word 'opposition' but none of the league representatives attending the meeting were in favour of endorsing the idea," Emanuel Medeiros, general manager of the European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL), told Reuters.
Platini wants the Champions League wide open to other clubs and recommends that 16 cup winners be given a different way to qualify into the Champions League, with four automatic places designated in the lucrative group stages.
Each league in England, Spain and Italy would give its fourth qualifying spot to the cup winners.
The EPFL, a Swiss-based organization that is recognized by UEFA, represents 25 of Europe's top professional leagues, including the English Premier League, Italy's Serie A and Spain's La Liga. More than 20 league representatives attended the meeting, according to Medeiros.
"We are concerned that the changes would weaken the strength of the leagues who are the very heart of European football," Medeiros said.
"This was our first chance to discuss the proposals and I think it was clear from the meeting that everybody wishes the best for European football.
"That will not be achieved with confrontation and we are confident that Michel Platini will evaluate our concerns and allow us to discuss this openly to find common ground."
The G14, a group of 18 leading European clubs, have been outspoken against the changes but William Gaillard, a special advisor to Platini, said that only a few G14 clubs are against the changes.
"I think the majority of the clubs do not want these changes, with the possible exception of the Italian clubs," Medeiros told Reuters.
UEFA gave the EPFL until the end of October to come up with other suggestions. Medeiros said several ideas have been discussed but the EPFL did not want to reveal the details yet.
Very few like the idea that domestic cup winners would play in the competition at the cost of clubs that qualified from the league system.
"I would not like to use the word 'opposition' but none of the league representatives attending the meeting were in favour of endorsing the idea," Emanuel Medeiros, general manager of the European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL), told Reuters.
Platini wants the Champions League wide open to other clubs and recommends that 16 cup winners be given a different way to qualify into the Champions League, with four automatic places designated in the lucrative group stages.
Each league in England, Spain and Italy would give its fourth qualifying spot to the cup winners.
The EPFL, a Swiss-based organization that is recognized by UEFA, represents 25 of Europe's top professional leagues, including the English Premier League, Italy's Serie A and Spain's La Liga. More than 20 league representatives attended the meeting, according to Medeiros.
"We are concerned that the changes would weaken the strength of the leagues who are the very heart of European football," Medeiros said.
"This was our first chance to discuss the proposals and I think it was clear from the meeting that everybody wishes the best for European football.
"That will not be achieved with confrontation and we are confident that Michel Platini will evaluate our concerns and allow us to discuss this openly to find common ground."
The G14, a group of 18 leading European clubs, have been outspoken against the changes but William Gaillard, a special advisor to Platini, said that only a few G14 clubs are against the changes.
"I think the majority of the clubs do not want these changes, with the possible exception of the Italian clubs," Medeiros told Reuters.
UEFA gave the EPFL until the end of October to come up with other suggestions. Medeiros said several ideas have been discussed but the EPFL did not want to reveal the details yet.
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