Bryn Posted 24 August 2007 Posted 24 August 2007 Cup winners to qualify for Champions LeagueEngland will keep four places under Platini plan Uefa proposals to breathe new life into FA's flagship Paul Kelso Friday August 24, 2007 The Guardian Future FA Cup winners will automatically receive a place in the Champions League under proposals for the fundamental reform of the competition due to be considered by Uefa next week. The move, which would provide a huge boost to the FA Cup and revolutionise the status of domestic knockout competitions across Europe, is part of a proposal to be unveiled by the Uefa president Michel Platini prior to the Champions League group stage draw next week. Platini was elected Uefa president last year, promising to reduce the maximum number of Champions League entrants from a single country from four to three, a pledge that won him support from many of Europe's smaller national associations. That proposal was opposed by the most powerful leagues and clubs in Europe however, and Platini is understood to have revised his proposals, with the domestic cup option being offered as a compromise. Currently the top four clubs in the Premier League qualify for the Champions League, with two progressing straight to the group stage and two entering the third and final qualifying round. By granting a place to the FA Cup winners from the 2009-2010 season England would retain four entrants but it is hoped that the pool of competitors will spread beyond the predictable "big four" clubs. Platini is keen to widen the Champions League pool; currently the champions from only nine countries are guaranteed a place in the group stage, with the runners-up from six of those also qualifying directly for the latter stages and the remaining 43 national champions having to play qualifying rounds. By allowing the Cup winners to enter, possibly in a qualifying competition, Platini believes Europe's elite competition will become less predictable and open to a wider spread of clubs. Along with England, the Spanish and Italian leagues also receive the maximum four entrants; France, Germany and Portugal have three, two of which go straight to the group stage, while Holland, Greece and Russia have two. Liverpool and Arsenal play the second legs of their qualifying matches next week. Under Platini's proposal the three leading nations will retain four entrants, with three based on league position and the fourth coming from the FA Cup. The proposal has the support of national associations including the FA, who would benefit from having a Champions League place effectively in their gift. Clubs and leagues are less well disposed to the idea and that opposition is likely to be aired next week at a meeting of Uefa's Professional Football Strategy Council. The PFSC includes representatives from national associations, professional leagues, clubs and the players' unions. The FA chairman Geoff Thompson, his Premier League counterpart Sir Dave Richards and Chelsea's chief executive Peter Kenyon are all members of the committee. Last month the European Professional Leagues umbrella group, of which Richards is chairman, registered its opposition, stating "anything which could affect negatively the league's competitions would be detrimental to the whole of European football." The issue was discussed at last week's Premier League shareholders' meeting, where the FA chief executive, Brian Barwick, suggested the proposal was in the best interests of many clubs. There was opposition however, with Kenyon and the Manchester United chief executive, David Gill, maintaining that the clubs had the power to prevent the changes. Uefa insiders insist the PFSC does not have the power to overturn the proposal, and that it will be approved before being rubber-stamped at Uefa's executive committee meeting next month. The evidence from recent seasons, however, suggests there would be little change in the English entrants. Since the European Cup brought in clubs other than the champions in 1992, only Everton, in 1995, have disturbed the Cup-winning cartel of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool. It is thought that if the Cup winners have already qualified for the Champions League via their league position, the fourth place would revert to the club that came fourth in the league. Among the losing clubs that might have been a game away from a place at Europe's elite table were Sunderland, Sheffield Wednesday, Middlesbrough, Aston Villa, Southampton, Millwall and West Ham. The prospects of Champions League wealth being spread ought to excite chairmen. A good run is worth over £20m and finalists earn close to £30m.
Asha Posted 24 August 2007 Posted 24 August 2007 To us, it makes no difference. Only one of the big four will win the FA Cup but they'd be in the Champions League anyway.
Lillehamring Posted 24 August 2007 Posted 24 August 2007 the prospect of Milwall in the champions league is, frankly, laughable - beyond that, why the hell not, if you can win the FA cup you must be pretty decent in one of matches. roll on that fa cup run, then!
potter3 Posted 24 August 2007 Posted 24 August 2007 If the winner is already in the Champions League the runner up should be entered. Or they should actually make it the Champions League, and only the league Champions (and maybe Cup Champion? ) are entered. It would never happen though...
Asha Posted 24 August 2007 Posted 24 August 2007 If the winner is already in the Champions League the runner up should be entered.Or they should actually make it the Champions League, and only the league Champions (and maybe Cup Champion? ) are entered. It would never happen though... It would be great. But not many teams...unless you counted the Luxembourg champions?
potter3 Posted 24 August 2007 Posted 24 August 2007 It would be great. But not many teams...unless you counted the Luxembourg champions? Well if you need 32, which is the number in the group stages anyway (?) so perhaps two teams could be entered from the larger leagues, league champion and cup champion
Brainy Posted 24 August 2007 Posted 24 August 2007 It would be great. But not many teams...unless you counted the Luxembourg champions? It's the Champions League. Champions. Therefore all Champions should take part. Nobody else.
Lillehamring Posted 24 August 2007 Posted 24 August 2007 It would be great. But not many teams...unless you counted the Luxembourg champions? why not, after all they could be involved now, thru the playoffs - it's not like anyone outside of england, spain, italy, germany, france or holland ever win these days, if that.
Ric Flair Posted 24 August 2007 Posted 24 August 2007 why not, after all they could be involved now, thru the playoffs - it's not like anyone outside of england, spain, italy, germany, france or holland ever win these days, if that. You had any 'PMs' yet about The Parker doo?
Joe. Posted 24 August 2007 Posted 24 August 2007 It's the Champions League. Champions.Therefore all Champions should take part. Nobody else. But then it wouldn't be a decent tournament. Ok, you'd have the champions from England, Spain, Germany, Italy, Portugal and France. That's 6 teams. Doesn't make much of a competition does it? And if you wanted to make the numbers up with teams from other countries with poorer leagues it'd be pretty much taking the piss on the bigger teams that didn't win their respected league but came second.
Geo V Posted 24 August 2007 Posted 24 August 2007 I personally dislike all this molly-coddling of the big teams by giving them increased chances of European Qualification or even the Champions League. I also dislike the group stages as you can get sides who lose a few games actually go on to win a cup competition which isn't right. As for putting cup winners in all Platini is doing is weakening the Euro Cup and adding prestige to domestic cup football which I would have thought isn't his job? Bring back the old ways of the Cup Winners Cup, UEFA style Cup and two legged Champions League games from the get-go. If you lose games, chances are you will get knocked out!
isaidno Posted 24 August 2007 Posted 24 August 2007 why not, after all they could be involved now, thru the playoffs - it's not like anyone outside of england, spain, italy, germany, france or holland ever win these days, if that. Porto ?
Blue Fox Posted 24 August 2007 Posted 24 August 2007 I can't see it happening the G14 mob will stop it happening
Lillehamring Posted 24 August 2007 Posted 24 August 2007 You had any 'PMs' yet about The Parker doo? Not a one - kinda sad really, i used to think he was class... is there any reason behind this?
lildave3 Posted 24 August 2007 Posted 24 August 2007 Fantastic news imo, although i'd like the Carling Cup winners given a place aswell.
Geo V Posted 24 August 2007 Posted 24 August 2007 Fantastic news imo, although i'd like the Carling Cup winners given a place aswell. And the Johnstones paint or whatever its called??!
lildave3 Posted 24 August 2007 Posted 24 August 2007 And the Johnstones paint or whatever its called??! No. What is so bad about the carling cup? I've never understood it, at the end of the day it's a trophy, what makes it less special or less important than the FA Cup?
Zingari Posted 24 August 2007 Posted 24 August 2007 No.What is so bad about the carling cup? I've never understood it, at the end of the day it's a trophy, what makes it less special or less important than the FA Cup? i know what you mean and it is hard to see why, but its just the tradition and kudos of the FA cup as the league cup is seen as a relative newcomer ; dunno if anyone can give other reasons
Jon the Hat Posted 24 August 2007 Posted 24 August 2007 What happens when the finalists are Man U and Chelsea who come 1st and 2nd in the Prem. It goes to semi finalists, and they are Liverpool (3rd) and say Watford who had a lucky run to the Semi-finals. Watford in the Champions league?
Brainy Posted 24 August 2007 Posted 24 August 2007 But then it wouldn't be a decent tournament. Ok, you'd have the champions from England, Spain, Germany, Italy, Portugal and France. That's 6 teams. Doesn't make much of a competition does it?And if you wanted to make the numbers up with teams from other countries with poorer leagues it'd be pretty much taking the piss on the bigger teams that didn't win their respected league but came second. Therefore they should name it The European Cup , and keep it that way.
vanfox12 Posted 26 August 2007 Posted 26 August 2007 I personally dislike all this molly-coddling of the big teams by giving them increased chances of European Qualification or even the Champions League. I also dislike the group stages as you can get sides who lose a few games actually go on to win a cup competition which isn't right. As for putting cup winners in all Platini is doing is weakening the Euro Cup and adding prestige to domestic cup football which I would have thought isn't his job? Bring back the old ways of the Cup Winners Cup, UEFA style Cup and two legged Champions League games from the get-go. If you lose games, chances are you will get knocked out! Totally agree - i've never understood why they got rid of the Cup Winners Cup as English clubs had a pretty decent record in the Competition. Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea won it in the Nineties.
lildave3 Posted 26 August 2007 Posted 26 August 2007 Totally agree - i've never understood why they got rid of the Cup Winners Cup as English clubs had a pretty decent record in the Competition. Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea won it in the Nineties. Zola with his first touch, happy days.
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