European Cup reform? German clubs unanimous against

The 36 German professional clubs reject the European Cup reform aimed at by the European Club Association ECA. The head of the DFL declared after the general meeting on Wednesday that all clubs are unanimous against the planned innovation.

Details of the reform, which would make the European Cup more or less a tripartite European league from 2024, were recently published by the news agency AFP. Thus 32 teams play in the 1st league (successor of the Champions League). These are to determine the participants of the knockout rounds in four groups of eight. That would mean 14 group matches for each team instead of the previous six.

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The most internationally successful clubs are to participate in the seasons from 2020 to 2024 – and this elitist society would almost be closed. The 24 best teams should automatically qualify for the coming season. Only four clubs would make it into the national leagues, four more would be promoted from the 2nd league (successor of the Europa League).

32 teams also take part in this 2nd league, 20 of them qualify via the leagues. Only in the 3rd league would 64 clubs compete, which would make the entry exclusively through the national championships.