UEFA further ruining what's already a shambles.
Starting next season the top 4 nations will have 4 direct places in the CL group stage. We can't risk those 4th placed clubs getting knocked out and what a shame that Italian football had declined to the point where Germany robbed them of one spot. Never mind, that's been sorted.
The two nations ranked 5th and 6th will only get two places each and 7th to 10th will get one place. That means that the champions of the 42 (I think) other associations will have FOUR places to fight over. The remaining four will go to the winners of the previous season's CL and EL and two of the second and third placed sides from nations ranked 5th to 15th.
Spain, England, Germany, Italy (16 places)
France, Russia (4 places)
Portugal, Ukraine, Belgium, Turkey (4 places)
If the CL holders have qualified through their domestic league, the Czech champions (the 11th ranked nation) will go directly to the group stage.
If the EL holders have qualified through their domestic league, the third placed side from the fifth placed nation (France) will go directly to the group stage.
The EL will now have a separate qualifying for clubs eliminated from the CL champions route.
There will be an additional round of qualifying games to make all this work.
The CL will now have the same kick off times as the EL. 18.55 CET and 21.00 CET.
Starting next season the top 4 nations will have 4 direct places in the CL group stage. We can't risk those 4th placed clubs getting knocked out and what a shame that Italian football had declined to the point where Germany robbed them of one spot. Never mind, that's been sorted.
The two nations ranked 5th and 6th will only get two places each and 7th to 10th will get one place. That means that the champions of the 42 (I think) other associations will have FOUR places to fight over. The remaining four will go to the winners of the previous season's CL and EL and two of the second and third placed sides from nations ranked 5th to 15th.
Spain, England, Germany, Italy (16 places)
France, Russia (4 places)
Portugal, Ukraine, Belgium, Turkey (4 places)
If the CL holders have qualified through their domestic league, the Czech champions (the 11th ranked nation) will go directly to the group stage.
If the EL holders have qualified through their domestic league, the third placed side from the fifth placed nation (France) will go directly to the group stage.
The EL will now have a separate qualifying for clubs eliminated from the CL champions route.
There will be an additional round of qualifying games to make all this work.
The CL will now have the same kick off times as the EL. 18.55 CET and 21.00 CET.