The English Premier League has reportedly received assurances that there are no plans to cut the number of Champions League group stage places in the league, in what must be viewed as a blow to clubs like Celtic.
English paper The Argus reports that the top-flight league has been reassured following talks with European Leagues that there are no fixed proposals in place for new UEFA competition yet.
Last week Head of European Leagues Lars-Christer Olsson put forward the idea that the continent’s biggest leagues should have three automatic group stage places rather than the current four.
“Giving four fixed positions to top associations should be questioned because that closes the opportunities for others,” Olsson said. (The Sun)
“It would be better to have three fixed places for the highest-ranked countries with the fourth having to qualify through a play-offs.
“In most cases they should be good enough to qualify through sporting reasons but this would give someone else the opportunity to beat them.”
Celtic fans just want a fairer shot in UEFA competition
The above quotes from Olsson painted a positive picture for Celtic. For years our fans and management have bemoaned the fact that we must play numerous qualifiers, despite being champions of our league, while the fourth best team in the likes of England, Spain and Germany waltz into the group stage.
The hope is that the upcoming UEFA reform will see more credence paid to champions of smaller countries like Scotland and we may at least not have as many qualifiers to play at the start of the season.
But the latest revelation proves that the continent’s biggest leagues aren’t going to give up a Champions League place without a fight. It seems like compromise may be the eventual winner. What that will mean for Celtic remains to be seen.
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
