Uefa president Michel Platini has contemplated the idea of scrapping the Europa League in favour of extending the Champions League to 64 teams in four years time, according to Bild.

In what would be the biggest shake-up in Europe's club competitions since the rebranding of the European Cup to its current form in 1992, the former France midfielder is reportedly planning on creating a single continental tournament.

Currently, the secondary competition generates far lower revenue for clubs than is produced by the Champions League, a problem Platini is increasingly concerned about, while it has been a target for much criticism since its evolution from the Uefa Cup in 2009.

To address this, Platini wants to increase the number of teams in the Champions League group stage to 64 teams in 2016, effectively absorbing most of the clubs from the Europa League.

Renowned European nations such as Spain, England and Germany would then be given six league berths each in their respective top-flight divisions.

In addition, the reform would ensure more scope would be given to lesser countries, including those from the likes of Latvia, Belarus and Slovakia.

Source:
http://www.goal.com/en/news/166/europa-league/2012/04/07/3019804/platini-considering-scrapping-europa-league-in-favour-of

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Thoughts? I think this is kinda double edged, doesn't look like the best solution.. Promoting and rewarding EL would be a lot better.

I dont know. It sounds interesting. It could backfire like you said, but it will definitely shake things up.

But won't each team have more matches to play this way?

6-8 CL spots in a league will make it too easy

Im in for this tbh

No way am I for this.

It wouldn't be as exciting or competitive and just think of the number of matches teams have to play. As if clubs don't have hectic schedules.

The best of each leagues should play against each other. Top 6 of each league is too easy.

No way, you're reducing the quality of the competition by overplaying the teams that actually matter

kiranr wrote:
I dont know. It sounds interesting. It could backfire like you said, but it will definitely shake things up.

But won't each team have more matches to play this way?

my initial thoughts as well

If only the top teams of the leagues would be given e spot, it would additionally devalue the domestic cups, as usually the winners of these get an EL spot, too. I think things went downhill when the proper Cup Winners' Cup was scrapped.

There's no point. It'd be unfair for the Europa league teams as they'd be facing CL teams.

Frankly, watching the likes of Real Madrid, Bayern or Barca trouncing the 5th, 6th or 7th of la liga, EPL, or bundi is not going to be anymore entertaining.

One of the disappointment with the CL is the fact that from a year to the next, most of the smaller clubs that make it through are left looted by the big clubs. So they become incredibly weak and useless. Montpellier in France is a great team this year, but clubs are already putting dibs on their best players. If they all leave, Montpellier will be fish food for other european sides, 6 easy points in pool.

Imo, if they manage to rearrange the calendar in a way that the CL becomes an end of season tourney the way the US sports work, it's going to be a huge win for everyone. The best teams of each season going toe to toe with each other.

A bigger CL only means more boring games, less prestige because it's not the elite anymore. Although the prospect of Osasuna or Levante taking rugby football to Old Trafford is a delightful sight. or Ballesteros putting stops on Rooney? :hungry:

who needs video technology and proper ffp rules, let's degrade the top competitions even more...

Platini hates Newcastle.

This would essentially kill the prestige of the competition.

Yay, more average teams in the tourney

Too much fixtures

This idea is ridiculous. IMO, it would be better to get rid of the 4th place teams and focus on the CHAMPIONS in the CL, which would in turn make the EL stronger.

I don't know if I'm crazy or what but I actually like the Europa League Tournament. I think it's very entertaining and I get to see teams that have really good talent that I don't usually get to see on TV.

Take Bilbao for instance, most EPL and Serie A fans would continue to think La Liga was just a two team league had they not seen Bilbao in Europa League. Or Vice Versa, Fulham made a name for themselves in the Tournamnet and Roy Hodgson got the chance to manage Liverpool. It is a good tournament that gives exposure to lesser teams and players plus it's a great place for teams to scout players and see how they do against teams from other leagues.

I also think it's a big excuse some of the bigger teams use when they lose that they weren't trying or they were not prioritizing the Europa League. They only seem to say that when they lose. I know they will put out lesser lineups but even the smaller teams do that.

I think the solution to make everyone give there all and take it seriously is to give the final 4 teams in the Europa League, Champions League bids. As people have seen this year because there actually paying attention to Europa LEague because some top teams have been in it is that it's no cake walk to make it to the final 4.

mtfootball wrote:There's no point. It'd be unfair for the Europa league teams as they'd be facing CL teams.

This season has shown more than others that EL teams have no problem with CL teams. They can give just as good as they get.

As for my thoughts on this. I think it's a mistake to scrap the EL. It may not generate the revenue of the CL, but it's a hell of a lot more entertaining I've found.

UEFA merely needs to offer better incentives for clubs to play in the EL and the problem it's currently having will disappear.

Mr Nick09 wrote:Frankly, watching the likes of Real Madrid, Bayern or Barca trouncing the 5th, 6th or 7th of la liga, EPL, or bundi is not going to be anymore entertaining.

One of the disappointment with the CL is the fact that from a year to the next, most of the smaller clubs that make it through are left looted by the big clubs. So they become incredibly weak and useless. Montpellier in France is a great team this year, but clubs are already putting dibs on their best players. If they all leave, Montpellier will be fish food for other european sides, 6 easy points in pool.

Imo, if they manage to rearrange the calendar in a way that the CL becomes an end of season tourney the way the US sports work, it's going to be a huge win for everyone. The best teams of each season going toe to toe with each other.

A bigger CL only means more boring games, less prestige because it's not the elite anymore. Although the prospect of Osasuna or Levante taking rugby football to Old Trafford is a delightful sight. or Ballesteros putting stops on Rooney? :hungry:

this would be the perfect solution except every 2 years there is a problem. If the CL were to be played at the end of the season the stronger teams would be there but in the even years there would also be the Euro/ World Cup. This gives players their league cup, league, CL and international event to deal with.

It's a good idea but it won't work.

ioilersrock448 wrote:

Mr Nick09 wrote:Frankly, watching the likes of Real Madrid, Bayern or Barca trouncing the 5th, 6th or 7th of la liga, EPL, or bundi is not going to be anymore entertaining.

One of the disappointment with the CL is the fact that from a year to the next, most of the smaller clubs that make it through are left looted by the big clubs. So they become incredibly weak and useless. Montpellier in France is a great team this year, but clubs are already putting dibs on their best players. If they all leave, Montpellier will be fish food for other european sides, 6 easy points in pool.

Imo, if they manage to rearrange the calendar in a way that the CL becomes an end of season tourney the way the US sports work, it's going to be a huge win for everyone. The best teams of each season going toe to toe with each other.

A bigger CL only means more boring games, less prestige because it's not the elite anymore. Although the prospect of Osasuna or Levante taking rugby football to Old Trafford is a delightful sight. or Ballesteros putting stops on Rooney? :hungry:

this would be the perfect solution except every 2 years there is a problem. If the CL were to be played at the end of the season the stronger teams would be there but in the even years there would also be the Euro/ World Cup. This gives players their league cup, league, CL and international event to deal with.

It's a good idea but it won't work.

I know, i thought about it because Platini already suggested a plan to completely revamp the football calendar. I will look it up again.

How about scrapping the CWC and extending the CL to cover the elite teams of the world.

This move would only diminish the quality of this tournament even more. As it is we already have 8-2 aggregate in the quarterfinals ffs, which is beyond shameful for a supposedly top competition.

This would completely ruin the competition, I really hope this doesn't happen.

I am in favor for this plus more money for the small teams and better leagues Me likey

All this twat cares about is revenue ... So giving more money to small teams is going to change what exactly ? That those owner twats will get more money than they are supposed to and still wont invest anything because they already play in CL ? Football was doomed when this f*cktard was selected ... he is ruining everything ...