By Andrew Warshaw
April 7 – The head of the umbrella organisation for Europe’s major leagues insists relations with UEFA have not broken down but warns fans are not fully aware of the extent of the damage which will be caused by upcoming changes to the Champions League.
Lars-Christer Olson (pictured), head of European Professional Football Leagues, had to stomach a strongly-worded attack on his members earlier this week by UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin who accused Europe’s top leagues, in his address to the UEFA Congress in Helsinki, of attempting to “blackmail” his organisation by scheduling domestic league fixtures on the same nights as European games.
This is being done partly in protest at UEFA approving additional slots for clubs from England, Spain, Germany and Italy in the lucrative Champions League group stage while reducing slots allocated to teams from smaller leagues from 2018-21.
At a press conference that followed the UEFA Congress , Ceferin said he did “not like it” that the leagues, specifically the Premier League, are doing their own thing.
But, insists Olsson, suggestions that relations are at an all-time low are short of the mark saying there is still time to come to some kind of compromise agreement.
“Ceferin had to say what he said to protect his own competitions,” Olsson told Insideworldfootball. “He couldn’t obviously say he was happy. But the interpretation that it will have any negative impact on our role or that he was trying to undermine us is incorrect.
“He was pinpointing certain leagues but he recognises that something has to be done. As the international calendar stands now, it’s impossible for leagues not to clash with European matches. I met Ceferin in Helsinki and our efforts to try and find solutions have not changed.”
Olsson said he expects one of the EPFL’s key demands – representation on the UEFA executive committee – to be resolved sooner rather than later.
“The next opportunity will be at UEFA’s extraordinary Congress in September and I’m confident it will happen.”
Olsson told Reuters, however, that the proposed Champions League changes could only spell bad news for the less affluent leagues.
“Those who already have a lot will get much more… and that is the biggest threat. Our task is show that there are some very negative consequences and we have to discuss that.”
“It has not been clearly shown what kind of difficulties will be created for the competitive balance of the domestic leagues and also in the long run for international club competitions.”
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