UEFA boss wants automatic qualification for semi-finalists

President Aleksander Ceferin of the European Football Union (UEFA) has suggested that the semi-finalists of the Champions League should in future be given automatic entry rights for the following season in the premier league.

In an interview with the Times, the 51-year-old cited the Dutch champion Ajax Amsterdam as an example. “We want to protect teams like Ajax this year or Monaco and Leicester City in previous years,” said Ceferin.

Ajax had caused a sensation last season and only just missed the entry into the Champions League final. Due to the lower UEFA five-year honorary division ranking, the record champions will have to survive the qualifiers to return to the premier class, despite their 34th championship title.

“Ajax has reached the semi-finals, but now they have to sell all their players because they don’t know if they’ll qualify for the Champions League again,” Ceferin said: “I don’t think we should protect too many clubs because then it’s too closed. But we should protect some clubs.” At a meeting on 11 September, UEFA will discuss the issue with clubs and leagues.