UEFA Proposes 64-Club Champions League Competition… Rues Scrapping Europa League

If the proposal by Europe’s football governing body scales through, the Europa league could be abolished while the prestigious champions league will have the number of participating clubs doubled to 64.

This is part of the changes Michel Platini, UEFA’s president, hopes to bring to club competitions with a final decision to be made in 2014.

Another proposal being looked at is to award Champions League qualification to the winners of the Europa League, and possibly even the runners-up too, in a bid to boost interest in the second-tier competition.

In an interview with French newspaper Ouest-France, he said, “There is an ongoing debate to determine what form the European competitions will take between 2015 and 2018. We talk, and we will make a decision in 2014. There is nothing decided yet.”

A 64-club competition would see as many as seven English clubs and five Scottish teams entering at various stages of the qualifying rounds.

Platini also blasted FIFA president Sepp Blatter for dismissing his idea of extra officials behind the goal-line as being too expensive. UEFA are continuing with the five officials, and Platini said that the cost was minimal compared to goal-line technology.

What’s your take on this latest UEFA proposal?