October 17 – European leagues unfairly disadvantaged by the controversial revamping of the Champions League could receive special financial aid from UEFA to offset the three-year deal that favours the Continent’s most affluent clubs.
Urgent talks last week between UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin and European Professional Football Leagues boss Lars-Christer Olsson were described as “very fruitful” following EPFL warnings that the new format was the first step on a slippery slope towards a closed-shop competition and that unless it is amended, domestic league games could go head-to-head head with UEFA club competitions on the same night, something that until now has been outlawed.
The 25-strong EPFL meet in Zurich this week for their annual assembly and Ceferin was reported in his native Slovenia as saying a compromise will be reached over plans to give the top four leagues in Europe four automatic group stage slots from 2018 to the detriment of the rest.
“We will certainly do something to help the smaller and mid-sized leagues,” he was quoted as saying, “perhaps via financial assistance.”
Ceferin said Olsson “recognises that a dialogue has started that things will be driven differently from now on.”
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