How would the expanded Champions League impact English football?

[ASFN Admin]

Premier League clubs have discussed for the first time new Uefa proposals for expanded European club competitions which could see six English clubs in the Champions League. If given the go-ahead, it would have a major knock-on effect on the structure and finances of English football, with the Champions League increasing from 125 matches to 225, and 15 match-days to 19. The first problem that would need solving is how to fit four extra match-days into an English calendar which is already full. Here are four potential solutions: 1. Cut the Premier League to 18 teams Most recently proposed by Pep Guardiola, this would free up four match-days at a stroke. However, the chances of it happening are close to zero given the amounts of money the clubs affected stand to lose. 2. Permanently scrap FA Cup replays and two-legged League Cup semi-finals This would account for three of the four dates required. A fourth could come from allowing European-qualified clubs to field youth teams in the third round of the EFL Cup. It would also be the least disruptive of the solutions but the Football Association and English Football League would be expected to demand compensation for diminished competitions. 3. Exempt European-qualified teams from the EFL Cup Freeing up only four match-days would still leave the English football calendar severely congested. Exempting European teams from the competition would mean them playing up to six games fewer per season. But the EFL would want even more money if it lost the biggest teams from its flagship cup competition, something that would also force a radical overhaul of its format. It would also potentially mean EFL Cup ties clashing with Champions League matches. 4. Scrap the EFL CUP Even the EFL itself may prefer this to a greatly-diminished EFL Cup if the price was right. England is also now the only country with two elite domestic cup competitions. The second problem that would need solving is the risk this could not only make the richest clubs even richer but also the poorer clubs even poorer. A vastly-expanded Champions League has the potential to drive down the value of domestic television and commercial deals irrespective of whether it causes other competitions to surrender match-days. Here are two potential solutions: 1. Uefa pays Another 100 Champions League matches will almost certainly massively increase Uefa revenues, much of which will end up in the pockets of those clubs competing in it. A strong case, therefore, could be made for Uefa increasing solidarity payments to those teams not in European competition to compensate them for any drop in their own revenues. 2. European-qualified teams pay There is also an argument that the clubs who benefit the most from an expanded Champions League should sacrifice some of their own Premier League prize money in increased solidarity payments to lower-league teams and even those in the same division. Why should a club not in European competition be expected to foot the bill of a diminished or scrapped FA Cup or EFL Cup when the only teams who gain from this will be those to have qualified?

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