October 18 – English Premier League clubs have been reassured there are no plans to strip them of their fourth automatic Champions League place.
Clubs in the top leagues across Europe were given a scare recently when Lars Christer Olsson, head of the European Leagues umbrella group, suggested reverting back to three guaranteed places.
Olsson is fiercely opposing a proposed Champions League revamp post-2024 backed by UEFA and the European Clubs Association, which aim to expand the competition possibly including promotion and relegation.
His stance is generally backed by Europe’s major leagues – except for the idea of cutting back on their automatic spots.
English reports say Premier League officials told Olsson they were “surprised and disappointed” by his idea which would have meant going back to the fourth-placed domestic finisher having to qualify for the group phase through a play-off round.
Reports say the European Leagues grouping, which has been holding its annual assembly in London this week, has now confirmed there are no “concrete proposals” to this effect at this stage.
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