One year after the collapse of the European Super League, the Champions League could change the plans that allow clubs to qualify on the basis of their historical performance in the most prestigious European competition and no longer on the basis of their position in the standings during the previous edition of their respective national championship.
As he explains The Guardianmembers of the European Club Association, an organization that includes ten Premier League teams, are considering putting pressure on Uefa to allow two teams to participate in the Champions League based in part on their ranking, a coefficient calculated on the basis of continental performances in the previous five seasons.
The proposals were discussed within the working group of the Club Competitions Committee, which sees senior members of the European Court of Auditors working on competition reforms with UEFA. Allowing clubs to qualify for the Champions League via the club coefficient was part of the original plans to expand the competition approved by UEFA last year. At the time they were seen as enabling big clubs to secure a place in the competition even if they failed to qualify for merit for league position.
After the collapse of the European Super League and public concerns about preserving “sporting integrity”, UEFA said the reforms could be adapted. Any return to using a coefficient as a basis for qualification, however, is likely to benefit clubs in the larger European leagues, where there are more qualifying spots and where teams tend to dominate the later stages of European tournaments. A club in a big league can even see their coefficient increased if other clubs in their league are successful in Europe.
Last year’s plans for a Super League were spearheaded by then-president of the ECA, Andrea Agnelli, who subsequently stepped down from his role. Juventus, of which Agnelli is president, has also left the organization, together with Real Madrid and Barcelona, with the role of ECA president entrusted to the number one of Paris Saint-Germain Nasser Al-Khelaifi.
