Champions League

Controversial Champions League changes mooted

By Neil Wilkes, Editor-in-chief | 29 January 2016

Manchester United and AC Milan are part of a group of clubs reportedly planning to propose automatic qualification places in the Champions League.

Manchester United and AC Milan are among a group of European sides who are planning to propose radical changes to the Champions League qualification procedure, according to a report in The Sun.

The European Clubs Association are reportedly making "secret plans" to suggest that certain teams are automatically guaranteed participation in the continent's top tournament every season, regardless of their domestic performance.

The proposals, which they hope to phase in for the 2018-19 season, would ensure that the most TV-friendly teams always feature in order to drive up the price paid by broadcasters to screen the competition.

Christian Seiffert, head of the Bundesliga, said of the rumours: "If a Super League comes in the way you've heard it, and I've heard it, that could help us with brand recognition. As with any company in the world, UEFA or the ECA has to think about what can be done better in the future."

Unless the group stage of the competition is expanded from its current berth of 32 teams, the plans would mean a reduction in the number of teams that qualify for the Champions League through their performance in the Premier League.

United are currently five points off the Champions League places in the Premier League, while in Serie A, Milan are eight points adrift.