If it goes as the most powerful persons in international football want it, will 2019 be remembered as the year in which that was reversed, up and down on the beautiful game. Some will perhaps say, that it was there, where the beautiful was removed, and where only played on the profits stood back.
on Tuesday of this week was the UEFA executive committee gathered at the headquarters in Nyon in Switzerland. With the closed meeting was also the ECA’s executive committee. ECA is the association of european clubs.
On the table were a number of suggestions as to what should happen with the Champions League and the Europa League after 2024.
The major clubs in Europe are looking like the Champions League made to something that resembles a divisionsinddeling, where the leading clubs in France, Germany, Spain, England and Italy are always guaranteed at least a handful of participants in the best range.
at the same time, a desire that Champions League matches must be played early in the day on weekends, so that the big tv audience in Asia can see opgørene before the bed calls. It is all about more tv money. And we are talking about billions of dollars.
Weekendkampene in the Champions League will be at the expense of the matches in the national leagues, must be moved to a weekday evening.
a meeting in Nyon was DBU’s president, Jesper Møller, who here received his baptism of fire as a newly elected member of UEFA’s executive committee.
Extra Blade caught him Wednesday on the phone where he was reached to his small hotel in Kosovo, as Denmark meet on Thursday evening.
– I cannot in detail say what the issues paper at its meeting in Nyon went out on. I shall first discuss with the organization of division, when I come home.
– There are, however, not to happen before 2024 and forward. We are early in the process, and there is not agreed upon something. But there are many scenarios.
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Jesper Møller was at the meeting in Nyon with representatives of the biggest clubs in Europe. Photo: Tariq Mikkel Khan.
– But it is known that the big clubs are talking about a divisionsinddeling. Was the part on the table?
– Yes, it is one of the models that were mentioned, but there is not agreed upon anything yet.
– How many models operate with?
Preliminary is it some overall thoughts, and then we should try to agree on a model. It will be a long process, and we when at the earliest a decision before up to christmas.
– For me it is important, to preserve the dream of to be able to qualify for the Champions League. It should apply to all 55 countries in UEFA. The big countries and clubs would like to have stability.
– How do you you desire to play Champions League in the weekends?
I do not agree with. It is UEFA’s president does not. It is something we must discuss, but I think that the weekends are for the national leagues, says Jesper Møller.
the Meeting in Nyon came the week after a meeting of FIFA’s governing council in Miami in the UNITED states. Here it was decided to introduce a new Club WORLD cup from 2021, with the participation of 24 teams, including eight from Europe.
UEFA voted, admittedly against the decision, and the european clubs announced that they will boycott the tournament.
FIFA is convinced, however, that the european clubs have enough to do. With the prospect of being able to rake in 200 million dollars just to attend, most will probably be soft in the knees.
Bayern Munich is already through to break the european consensus. Club president Uli Höeness has stated that he would like to see a Club WORLD cup as quickly as possible.
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Uli Höeness, which, after his prison sentence for tax fraud, is reassigned as president of Bayern Munich would like to participate in a Club WORLD cup as quickly as possible. Photo: AP
– I also heard at the meeting in Nyon that there are clubs that would like to participate in the Club WORLD cup, says Jesper Møller.
– But we do not believe there is space in the matchkalenderen, which extends to 2024. It is pressed with the qualifiers and the WORLD cup in 2022.
– I can’t see how it could be squeezed together without the players being burdened too much. I completely agree with UEFAs decision to vote no to the Club WORLD championship in 2021.
– Shall we bet a happy cup of coffee to the european clubs are allured to participate in the Club WORLD championship in 2021?
– You know very well that we are not allowed to play on their own struggles, laughs Jesper Møller.
