By Andrew Warshaw
March 31 – In a last-ditch effort to force UEFA into a change of heart over its controversial changes to the Champions League, Europe’s top leagues have scheduled an extraordinary meeting for June but have stopped short of saying what action, if any, will be taken if their calls for a greater say in the decision-making process are not met.
European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL) chairman Lars-Christer Olsson, himself a former UEFA chief executive, told reporters following the organisation’s annual assembly in Portugal that his members were unhappy with the 2018-21 distribution cycle for UEFA’s club competitions and want their views taken into account.
Or else? He didn’t really say but conceded his members had had “a couple of hard days.”
A Memorandum of Understanding between the EPFL and UEFA that expired in mid-March has so far not been renewed and Olsson said the two sides were still some way off forging a new one.
Under the 2018-21 cycle, more Champions League group stage places will be set aside for teams from the top four leagues and fewer for clubs from smaller leagues.
“Our main objective is to safeguard and develop the competitive balance in each of our domestic leagues,” said Olsson.
Announcing an extraordinary general assembly for Geneva on June 6, he added: “This is an issue where we have not yet reached agreement with UEFA. We are of the opinion that it is one of the most important issues in European professional club football for at least the last 10 to 20 years.”
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