Topic: A European Super League: The future of football?

[Ray K]

More from Martin Ziegler. If anyone has access to the Times online they can flesh this out a bit...

Plan to expand Champions League poses threat to EFL Cup

European football’s leaders are close to an agreement to expand the Champions League by four extra match dates each season in a move that would have big repercussions for domestic football.

The new format that will produce the extra matches has not been agreed — though it could involve restructuring the group stage, or even adding an additional round-robin phase. But the first issue is to find space in the calendar, which would have an impact on domestic football. In England, the greatest threat would be to the EFL Cup.

Four extra matches would mean the Champions League finalists playing at least 17 games over the course of the competition..

..and more behind the paywall.

Depressing how they want to ruin the best competition in football.

[LovelyCushionedHeader]

More from Martin Ziegler. If anyone has access to the Times online they can flesh this out a bit...

Plan to expand Champions League poses threat to EFL Cup

European football’s leaders are close to an agreement to expand the Champions League by four extra match dates each season in a move that would have big repercussions for domestic football.

The new format that will produce the extra matches has not been agreed — though it could involve restructuring the group stage, or even adding an additional round-robin phase. But the first issue is to find space in the calendar, which would have an impact on domestic football. In England, the greatest threat would be to the EFL Cup.

Four extra matches would mean the Champions League finalists playing at least 17 games over the course of the competition..

..and more behind the paywall.

Depressing how they want to ruin the best competition in football.

Just take European clubs out of the EFL Cup. Simple. Not that I support this proposal, I just think the EFL Cup should be for non-European teams anyway.

[dudleyred]

Just take European clubs out of the EFL Cup. Simple. Not that I support this proposal, I just think the EFL Cup should be for non-European teams anyway.

Think that’s fair

The EFL cup is so far down the pecking order now it should be for those teams not in Europe

Put some decent prize money on it and make it prestigious again for those in it

[Charlie Adams fried egg]

By that utter c*nt Perez. As the UEFA President puts it:

The proposal most likely would meet fierce resistance. At a stroke any such competition would decimate the value of domestic league matches, but by taking the best teams they also could destroy the value of the Champions League, the world’s richest club championship and the financial engine of European soccer’s governing body, UEFA.

“I have read about this insane plan. If reports are to be believed, it comes from a single club president, not the owner, and a lone football administrator. It would be hard to think of a more selfish and egotistical scheme,” said Aleksander Ceferin, the president of UEFA. “It would clearly ruin football around the world; for the players, for the fans and for everyone connected with the game — all for the benefit of a tiny number of people.”

Perez is a greedy prick who is obsessed with this.

Yet another megalomaniac who thinks he knows what's best for everyone else.
If you want to turn your state subsidised shower of shithouses into the Harlem Globetrotters, that's fine. But leave the rest of us out of it thanks 

[rafathegaffa83]

They've already ruined the WC and Euros by adding more games. You will have a scenario in a few years using England as an example of PL, FA Cup, League Cup, expanded CL/EL, expanded Club World Cup, plus  your international tournaments (AFCON coming back midseason,  World Cup  Copa America, Euros etc.)

The quality of the overall product is going to decline massively at the current rate

[rebel23]

I won't mourn the loss of the EFL Cup... it's a joke competition.

[fowlermagic]

More games when I struggle to watch the number that is there right now. They are watering down the product where you might have a couple of weeks off from the game before a season starts up again esp during a WC / Euro summer. Bit like the golf season which must be all year round these days....way too much exposure.

[Skeeve]

Such stupid bloody short term thinking from these various football organisations, they are all so intent on getting a bigger share of the money, while ignoring the obvious point that footballers are a finite resource and you will just end up making the "product" worse when you overuse the most talented players.

[Dull Tools]

I always really enjoy the League Cup. The away atmospheres are always great and you get to see any exciting prospects coming through.

But I agree a league cup without European qualified teams with a place in the Uefa Cup up for grabs would be a great competition.