Champions League: Uefa face backlash as leading European leagues threaten revolt after secret talks were held

Uefa’s decision to change the structure of the Champions League and Europa League has been criticised by the European Professional Football Leagues [EPFL] and could lead to domestic leagues revolting against the European governing body.

The EPFL – which represents 24 of Europe’s leading domestic leagues including the Premier League, La Liga and Bundesliga – has called on Uefa to reconsider the changes that will see the biggest clubs in Europe benefit even more financially than they currently do. A statement issued on Thursday morning also confirmed that the EPFL believe Uefa have breached an agreement that states domestic football matches cannot take place on Uefa match days, which could lead to the agreement being scrapped and European leagues scheduling matches for whenever they wish.

An EPFL meeting scheduled for Thursday will see the matter discussed between representatives of the member leagues, and a press conference will be held later this afternoon to deliver an update on the situation that is threatening the current state of European football.

“The European Leagues believe the way this process has been conducted by Uefa to be unacceptable for an organisation that claims to be the governing body of football in Europe,” an EPFL statement read.

“A major change in European football has been announced without the support and consensus of the organisers of domestic league football in Europe. This decision will have a detrimental impact on domestic competitions and will lead to an exponential growth in the financial and sporting gap between the biggest clubs in Europe and all the others.

“As a result of the decision taken by Uefa, the EPFL believes that Uefa has breached the Memorandum of Understanding [MoU] between the two organisations.

“In the event that the EPFL were to terminate the MoU as a result of such breach, this would give all European Leagues total freedom to schedule their matches as they see fit – including on the same days and at the same kick-off times as Uefa club competitions."

Secret negotiations between Uefa and leading clubs in Europe led to announcement in Monaco last month that their four leading nations – England, Spain, Italy and Germany – will receive four automatic places in the Champions League group stage from next season onwards. The result was the removal of the winners from the 11th and 12th-ranked leagues, as well as one of the five berths reserved for a qualifying team.

The changes will also see clubs rewarded financially for their results over the last few years in Europe and not for the value of their television market, as is currently the case. The EPFL fear that this decision will cause the gulf between the richest and poorest clubs in the same league will continue to grow wider, although Uefa’s changes came in an effort to prevent a so-called European super league that would see the likes of Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid qualify for the competition every year regardless of their finishing position.

Thenext Uefa president will be elected next Wednesday with Dutchman Michael van Praag and Aleksander Ceferin of Slovenia standing for election to replace the suspended former president Michel Platini. It appears that their first major task will be to smooth over relations with the EPFL, after they called on the eventual president to reconsider the changes or risk further action.

“Finally, the EPFL calls on the new Uefa president, to be elected next week, to reconsider the reform relating to Uefa club competitions,” the statement added. “The European Leagues stand ready to meet the new Uefa president to discuss these matters.”