The Association of European Football Leagues, European Leagues, is on a confrontation course with the largest football clubs on the continent. At a conference in Lisbon, the association president Lars-Christer Olsson on Friday rejected reform proposals of the European Club Association (ECA) and presented itself ideas for the reform process of Uefa.
A few months ago, the ECA, representing the interests of European big clubs, had proposed more European matches and a promotion and relegation system between European competitions. On broad criticism from the leagues had come up with the idea to leave 24 of 32 teams after a Champions League season in the premier class, thus securing a starting place in the lucrative competition.
Among other things, the German DFL and the English Premier League reject the plans so far. With significantly more games at European level, they fear a loss of importance as well as lower revenues from TV broadcasts and marketing. Olsson stressed on Friday that a reorientation of the European competitions should protect the national leagues. The League Association is "open to new innovations," Olsson said in a press statement, but under three conditions:
- Clubs should qualify for the European competitions with their current sporting performance,
- National football should retain its supremacy
- and the current football calendar "so beloved by the fans" should be respected.
With the latter point, the league association is against the ECA idea to dramatically increase the number of group matches in the Champions League: clubs should not have to play more games than before. The league chiefs are particularly sensitive to attempts to hold European Cup games at the weekend as well. It would make more money for the participating clubs, but the games would directly collide with the national leagues.
Opponents complain of greater imbalance
Opponents of the ECA proposals, led by Juventus leader Andrea Agnelli, fear an even greater imbalance between large and small European clubs. Three years ago, the richest clubs in the world, including Bayern Munich, pushed ahead with a reform that made them even richer. For example, clubs that have been particularly successful on the European stage in recent years receive special bonuses at the beginning of a Champions League season. Bayern Munich, for example, collects more than 30 million euros - just for past successes. Even clubs such as Real Madrid, FC Barcelona or Juventus get a further advantage over clubs that can not play internationally every year. Surprise results like Eintracht Frankfurt, Leicester City or Ajax Amsterdam would be less likely. The league association wants to turn this reform back again, as Olsson explained on Friday.
In addition, the European leagues demand significantly more funds to support young talent and infrastructure as well as clubs that have failed in qualifying and do not participate in the European Cup. According to the current distribution of funds, Uefa distributes seven percent of Europokal's sales plus ten million euros as so-called solidarity payments. That's 237 million euros in the current season. The European league association now demands that 20 percent of its revenue should be used for solidarity funds, which is currently 650 million euros.
It is unlikely that the leagues will be able to assert themselves with these proposals. In addition the influence of the ECA in the Uefa should be too large. But the original plan of the club association to implement the reform within a few months has stalled. Originally, Uefa President Aleksander Ceferin had invited representatives of the various parties to negotiate for next week. But the appointment was initially postponed indefinitely. It is a highly complex task to find a compromise for the various interests of clubs, leagues and Uefa.