Uefa Consider Scrapping Europa League
28 November 2012
Uefa president Michel Platini says the European football authority is set to debate the continued existence of the Europa League.
The proposal on the table is to scrap the Europa League, and extend the Champions League into a 64-team competition.
Since the Uefa Cup was changed into the Europa League it has been regarded as the red-headed stepchild of the Champions League.
Big teams find competing in the early rounds of the cumbersome competition frustrating and embarrassing, and often field weakened line-ups, unless they reach the last-four or final.
As a result, Platini has admitted to Ouest France that a change could be on the cards on the cards.
"There is a debate to determine what form the European competitions will have between 2015 and 2018,” he said.
"We are discussing it, we will make a decision in 2014. There is nothing decided yet."
Platini also said that Uefa would open the discussion around the merits of using video technology to adjudicate close offside decisions.
"This is a complicated thing for which we might, and I say might, need video – it's offside,” he said.
“Because it is very difficult for the referees to rule on that."
Should the Europa League be merged into a larger Champions League, or will that take the gloss off the world's premier club competition?
comments
Who cares?? Coz even the current setting dazn't represent the name of the tournament. It's called the Ueropean Champions League bt u still find teams lyk ManU, Bayern, Arsenal etc dat hv won nothing. Frankly, I CARE LESS. I lyk those heineken ads.
Submitted by: 209236192
Date: 30 November 2012, Time: 17:22:51
@Geees, what did you smoke? Stay away from whoonga boy.
Submitted by: Ngalonde
Date: 29 November 2012, Time: 13:49:29
No 1 watches Europa League. Just merge them
Submitted by: sishubaliyabulela
Date: 29 November 2012, Time: 11:50:58
8ad idea. Yes in Europa League teams field second string teams but to mix them with the best in the world is too much. Imagine Barca vs Fulham,Bayern vs Zaragoza.....
Submitted by: talentmchunu
Date: 29 November 2012, Time: 08:06:43
A big NO this will mean we will watch an un ending story secondly europa is good for teams who have tried in their leagues en the disire to make en break records to go en play champions lig if they did better on their ligs as 4 me it will degrade the std of the champions lig 4 teams per lig in europe its better damn platini
Submitted by: negative60
Date: 29 November 2012, Time: 03:02:40
A World Cup must also b 64, Bafana BacHIVs mi make make it if dis happen
Submitted by: Geees
Date: 28 November 2012, Time: 23:28:26
It wil b gud. I also blive a a new rule added - each club MUST finish 90 min wiv 4 players who r eligible to play 4 da country of dat club. Aserne Wenger has no best interest of 3 Lions @ heart
Submitted by: Geees
Date: 28 November 2012, Time: 23:25:45
Great idea indeed
Submitted by: tshepo maimane
Date: 28 November 2012, Time: 22:13:04
Rubbish wena Platini...Yo mst consult a doctor, smthn is nt goin wel in ur head. 64 teams?? Mxm
Submitted by: Maluti
Date: 28 November 2012, Time: 20:32:37
Great idea frm the future Fifi pres,More investors will cum on board nd we will C a lot of football.64 teams Champs lig Yes nd 32 teams 4 EURO Yes..
Submitted by: Talent20
Date: 28 November 2012, Time: 20:25:26