Football

UEFA Rejects Proposal Allowing Clubs to Choose Champions League Opponents

- by Olatunji Johnson - 1 Comment

New Format to Introduce Tennis-Style Seeding System Despite Controversy

UEFA has dismissed a proposal that would have potentially granted elite clubs like Manchester City and Liverpool the authority to select their opponents in the knockout stages of the revamped Champions League format, set to launch next season.

Under the new format, which expands the tournament to 36 teams from the current 32, clubs will engage in an extended group stage featuring eight matches each, with the top eight teams securing automatic berths in the round of 16.

To fill the remaining spots, play-off matches will determine the qualifiers from the ninth to 24th positions in the group stage table. Despite initial concerns over the increased number of matches and the departure from the traditional group stage format, fans await eagerly to see the impact on the competition’s standard.

According to reports from The Independent’s Miguel Delaney, UEFA considered implementing a tennis-style seeding system for the knockout draw, positioning top-ranked teams strategically to avoid early clashes.

While several options were deliberated, including a US-style draft system where top-ranked teams choose their opponents, UEFA opted for the seeding system, abandoning the proposed selection format.

As qualification for the tournament proper remains underway, attention is drawn to the allocation of the four additional spots. Two places will be determined by nation co-efficient performances, with Italy and Germany currently leading the rankings, followed by England and Spain.

Despite the decision to uphold the seeding system, speculation persists regarding the potential impact of the new format on the dynamics of Europe’s premier club competition as the current season approaches its conclusion.

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