Club Competitions in Monaco 03 Champions League Calendar 07
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10.07 Including Club competitioncompetition s eventsin Monaco in Monaco 03 Champions League calendar 07 AC Milan win the Super Cup 09 European Club Forum 12 No 58 – Février 2007 66 October Message Photos: UEFA-pjwoods.ch of the president A carefully thought out proposal The current elite of European football is not the same as it was in the early years of the Champion Clubs’ Cup, nor does it necessarily have to remain unchanged. The European model of sport, with its system of promotion and relegation, aims specifi- cally to prevent the elite from becoming a clique and denying new contenders the possi- bility of access. Nothing is set in stone: worth has to be constantly proven on the pitch. This is one of the concerns which underlie the proposal that I put forward in Monaco to the Professional Football Strategy Council with regard to the future of the UEFA club competitions from 2009 onwards. The other key elements forming the basis of my proposal are those I argued for in my presidential campaign – namely, to allow the largest possible number of national associations to be represented in European foot- ball’s flagship club competition and to increase the number of domestic champions among the participants. This is because, as its name indicates, the competition is primarily intended for teams which have won titles, and with this in mind I also wish to give domestic cup winners the possibility of taking part. This has the added merit of giving IN THIS ISSUE a fresh boost to national cup competitions, which, in many countries, have a long tradition and enjoy enormous popularity. First meeting My proposal does not call into question the whole format of the UEFA of the Professional Champions League which, it is generally agreed, is an undeniable success. Nor does it Football Strategy Council 03 seek to take anything away from the big associations, the strongest of which retain UEFA Champions the possibility of having four teams involved and the (new) assurance of having at least League calendar 07 three. What it does aim to do is improve certain aspects – for example, to avoid a situation where the runners-up in a domestic championship may be competing in the A fifth UEFA Super Cup Champions League even though the winners of the same championship are not involved. for AC Milan 09 My proposal is also concerned with strengthening the UEFA Cup with a more clearly FC Marsaxlokk – defined group phase and a bigger number of clubs moving from one competition to the a dream becomes reality 10 other. Overall, the national associations will not lose any representatives, and some will even have more. The quality of the competitions will not suffer either, and all the European Club Forum 12 constraints of the match calendar have been taken into account. Elite club coaches in Nyon 15 Therefore, having closely examined all the elements in this proposal, I am convinced that it is in the general interests of European football and, unless someone News from member associations 16 presents a more beneficial plan based on the same philosophy, this is the proposal which I will make a strong case for at the Executive Committee meeting in November. COVER Massimo Ambrosini holds aloft the Super Cup Michel Platini trophy that AC Milan UEFA President won at the expense of Sevilla FC. Photo: UEFA-Bozzani 02 uefadirect 10.07 Club summit in Monaco ?????????????????????????Tenth anniversary and a first UEFA-Bozzani AT THE END OF AUGUST, AND FOR THE TENTH YEAR as a continuation of the European IN A ROW, EUROPEAN FOOTBALL EMBARKED ON ITS NEW SEASON Professional Football Strategy Forum that met earlier in the year, the extra- IN THE PRINCIPALITY OF MONACO. ordinary Congress in Zurich in May had anchored the Professional Foot- The tenth anniversary of UEFA’s The packed programme ball Strategy Council within UEFA’s summer reunion in Monaco turned out in Monaco included the draws for the Statutes. The Strategy Council brings to be a poignant occasion following the Champions League and UEFA Cup, together representatives of the na- death of FC Sevilla defender Antonio the Super Cup, a gala evening, a tional associations, leagues, clubs and Puerta, sadly cut down on the brink meeting of the Club Competitions players (see separate column on p.4). of a promising international career. Committee, the UEFA president's Speaking of the meeting, The bereavement had consequences for lunch with the media and also several held on Thursday 30 August, Michel the draw for the group stage of the meetings with the clubs, sponsors Platini told the assembled media UEFA Champions League, as the third and broadcasters in preparation for at a lunch: “It was a historic meeting. qualifying round return match between the season. The bases for collaboration between AEK Athens and FC Sevilla had been the stakeholders had to be estab- postponed for a few days. Measures First meeting of lished. The objective is to introduce had to be introduced to ensure that the Strategy Council a charter for European football and the main draw criteria were respected A significant new feature of a collective agreement.” One of the (clubs from the same country drawn in the programme in Monaco this year keenly awaited points of the meeting different groups, selection of group was the first meeting of the Profes- was the UEFA president’s presentation seeds) despite the uncertain identity of sional Football Strategy Council. Pro- of his vision for the European club the 32nd qualifier. posed by UEFA president Michel Platini competitions for 2009-12. 03 Members of the Strategy Council The Professional Football Strategy Council (PFSC) comprises the follow- ing members: ■ four UEFA vice-presidents, representing the interests of UEFA and its member associations: Senes Erzik (Turkey), chairman of the Strategy Council, Geoffrey Thompson (England), Angel Maria Villar Llona (Spain), Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder (Germany); ■ four European league repre- sentatives: José Luis Astiazaran (Spain), Lex Gold (Scotland), Sir David Richards (England), Frédéric Thiriez (France); The death of Sevilla defender Antonio Puerta ■ four club representatives: cast a shadow over the gathering in Monaco. Tributes were also paid to him Maarten Fontein (Netherlands), at the draw for the Champions League. Umberto Gandini (Italy), Peter Kenyon (England), Joan Laporta (Spain); ■ four professional players’ representatives: Gerardo Gonzalez Movilla (Spain), Leonardo Grosso Changes to the access List ten places, the plan is to form two (Italy), Philippe Piat (France), Theo “It is not a matter of chang- different qualifying groups: the first van Seggelen (Netherlands). ing the format of the Champions would comprise the champions of the League,” emphasised the president in associations ranked from 13 to 52 his introduction, paying homage to (Liechtenstein does not organise a the creators of a competition that has national championship and does not had global success. The participation participate in the competition). Three of 32 teams in the group stage knockout rounds would provide six is not in question, nor is the formula teams for the Champions League by which the group stage is followed group stage, bringing the number of by knockout rounds for the last associations represented to 18 (or 19) 16 teams. The president's proposal (there were 15 in the 2007/08 com- concerns the competition’s access list; petition). The second qualifying group his preference has always been to would bring together the winners favour champions and competition of the national cup competitions of the winners while increasing the number top 16 associations in the UEFA rank- of associations represented. The UEFA ings. Two qualifying rounds would president's plan is to allocate the supply the final four participants 32 places available as follows: in the Champions League. If a winner ■ one place reserved for of a national cup competition has the holders; already qualified through its finishing The meeting of ■ three places guaranteed position in the national champion- 30 August in Monaco. for clubs from the top three associa- ship, the place would not go to the tions in the UEFA rankings, that is defeated finalist but would instead be to say nine places; allocated to the next-best team in UEFA-Bozzani ■ two places guaranteed the national championship. for clubs from the associations ranked The proposed formula not The representatives of the 4-6, in other words six places; only increases the number of associa- leagues, clubs and players are elected ■ one place guaranteed for tions represented but also the number for two years by the groups recog- clubs from the associations ranked 7-12, of champions. For example, the sys- nised by UEFA as representing their i.e. six clubs. tem would have led to 18 champions interests, namely the European Pro- This would allocate 22 places taking part in this year's group stage fessional Football Leagues (EPFL), the to clubs representing 12 associations, compared with the 13 champion European Club Forum (ECF) and the or 13 if the holder qualifies through clubs under the present method. International Federation of Pro- its national championship, thus giving Furthermore, opening the Champions fessional Footballers’ Associations, a place to the champions of the asso- League to cup winners would revi- European Division (FIFPro). ciation ranked 13th. For the remaining talise national cup competitions and 04 uefadirect 10.07 The meeting of the Club Competitions Committee. UEFA-Bozzani Only the holders from the of the Statutes that now means previous year, if they did not qualify for committees report directly to the the Champions League, would enter Executive Committee. Giangiorgio the group stage directly. All other clubs Spiess came to Monaco to indicate would have to come through one or that he is stepping down from both qualifying rounds and/or the first this committee, on which he was round except for the clubs from the the Executive Committee’s represen- Champions League.