UEFA’s proposal to include clubs into the Champions League based on their historical merit has been met with widespread criticism. In the Premier League, clubs outside the Big Six believe that the new model is essentially a watered-down version of the European Super League plans – which isn’t wrong.
The new format proposed for the Champions League is very similar to the one that the breakaway tournament initially proposed. Moreover, it is biased towards the bigger clubs in the country and would help them gain a financial advantage over the others.
UEFA hit with massive criticism over revamped UCL format
West Ham United manager David Moyes recently spoke about the issue, after his team qualified for the semifinals of the Europa League:
‘If we’re honestly talking about a club who are back in Europe, you would have to say we’re new,’ Moyes said.
‘We’re the new boys on the block. I bet you UEFA were not expecting West Ham to be in this position.
‘But that’s what happens. And that’s why we need to keep encouraging UEFA to bring in other teams.
‘Look how well we’ve done. Maybe we might not have got in this competition if there were different rules. From that point of view, I really think that we want to show that we can challenge.’
Fans and clubs have both been critical about UEFA’s ideas. There is now an increased pressure on them to reject the proposal when they discuss the Champions League revamp in Vienna on May 10.
