In a power shift toward Europe’s wealthiest clubs, UEFA has agreed to give more guaranteed Champions League group-stage places to the four highest-ranked leagues.
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Under the present system, the top three leagues – now Spain, Germany and England – have three places each, while the fourth-placed teams must play off over two legs for a place in the group stage.
This new decision means the clubs that finish in the first four positions in these countries, will automatically qualify for the group stage without any play-offs.
Now three teams qualify for the group stage of Europe’s platinum competition from England, Spain and Germany with the fourth having to navigate a play-off fixture.
The Europa League winners will now also enter the competition in the group stage rather than needing to go through a round of qualifying.
European football’s governing body have also stated that financial distribution between clubs will be greater in both the Champions League and the Europa League, while it is also stated that “sporting performance” will be better rewarded, and “market pool share” will lessen.
UEFA has yet to resolve how the changes will have a knock-on effect on smaller clubs’ access to the Champions League groups.
“What we can say now is that, after lobbying hard for the retention of the champions route for UEFA Champions League qualification, the SPFL is therefore pleased that the champions route has been protected as part of these changes”.
Just a day after Champions League teams found out about their opponents, Manchester United, Southampton and 46 more football clubs finally discovered who they face in Europe.
Taking after a qualifying stage, 32 teams will be pulled in eight parties of four for the advantage to be one of 16 sides to continue on to the knockout conflict.
“Celtic are a team we have got to know well in Europe and after seasons without Champions League football they will have a point to prove”, he told the Record. The change will take place in time for the 2018-19 competition.
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The final major change is in the way the money paid to clubs is calculated.
