An official announcement on deliberate radical adjustments to the format of the UEFA Champions League from 2024 onwards is ready to be made on April 19, European soccer’s governing physique stated on Tuesday. Final week European Leagues, a physique representing the pursuits of golf equipment and leagues in 30 international locations throughout the continent, stated UEFA would decide on the anticipated adjustments at a gathering this Wednesday. UEFA confirmed it can talk about plans at this week’s assembly of its govt committee however will watch for the subsequent one earlier than finalising the adjustments.
“The way forward for membership competitions post-2024 shall be one of many matters mentioned,” UEFA stated in a press release.
“Nevertheless, any official resolution on this respect will solely be made on the subsequent UEFA govt committee assembly on April 19, so as to finalise ongoing discussions.”
The April 19 assembly can also be set to see UEFA affirm the way it will organise the delayed Euro 2020, which is because of go forward in 12 cities unfold throughout the continent however may very well be modified relying on what venues enable spectators to attend video games through the Covid-19 pandemic.
Nevertheless, the Champions League adjustments — that are anticipated to be radical — will dominate discussions.
The adjustments are anticipated to extend the variety of golf equipment concerned within the group stage from the present 32 to 36.
The prevailing group-stage format, consisting of eight teams of 4 groups, shall be utterly shaken up.
Instead, UEFA is anticipated to introduce a single pool and a format generally known as the ‘Swiss system’, which is able to see groups enjoying 10 video games as an alternative of the present six.
No workforce will face anybody else greater than as soon as in a system extra generally utilized in chess.
The groups ending within the high eight positions of the one pool will advance to the final 16, with the underside 12 eradicated.
In the meantime, the edges ending between ninth and twenty fourth place will go on to play two-legged play-off ties to determine the ultimate eight slots within the knockout part.
Promoted
The knock-out phases will then proceed in the identical method as now, however the adjustments will imply a big improve within the variety of matches performed, with a workforce reaching the ultimate enjoying a minimal of 17 matches in comparison with 13 within the current format.
The results are an enormous improve within the total variety of video games performed, from 125 to 225, with the overall variety of group-stage matches leaping from 96 to 180.
