Mar 17 2009
Michel Platini Tries To Ruin More UEFA Competitions
photo: Service d’information du gouvernement
UEFA president Michel Platini is planning on meeting with the European Club Association to discuss the possibility of a European Super League to replace both the UEFA Cup and UEFA Champions League. The Super League would be comprised of three tiers with 20-22 teams in each tier, and relegation and promotion would work just as in domestic leagues now, between each of the tiers. Part of the proposition would also involve changing the way a season progresses for domestic leagues. Competitions like the Premiership would have to cut back on their amount of matches per season to account for the extra matches teams at the top of the table, would have to play in the “Super League”.
This proposal sounds absolutely horrid to me. The greatness of the Champions League and UEFA Cup is in the knockout stages, and the fact that every match counts because you have to win to remain in the competition. Not to mention how great it is to see your club knock out a team that you hate, or a longstanding club rival. You completely lose that aspect of the game if the Champions League and UEFA Cup change from tournament format, to League format.
Who cares if Manchester United, the top team in England, face off against Inter Milan and the best Serie A have to offer, if the match doesn’t really matter in the long run?
The tournament format should not be changed, or else the appeal of earning a European title will be lost on the fans. We have our domestic leagues like the Premiership, Serie A, La Liga, Bundesliga, Le Championnat to name a few, if you’re looking for that match format. But don’t take away the excitement of a knockout tournament where the best in Europe clash with each other, battling over the right to hoist either the Champions League trophy or the UEFA Cup.
