Premier League raises concerns over Champions League group-stage revamp plans for after 2024

UEFA proposal includes replacing groups of four with one league table where each team plays 10 opponents drawn by seeding; Plans could see number of teams increase from 32 to 36 as well as changes to the UEFA coefficient for seeding teams

Sky Sports News’ Jamie Weir has the latest from the Premier League’s talks over proposed changes to the Champions League group-stage format and the two areas of concern raised by the Premier League.

The Premier League has raised concerns over UEFA's proposed changes to the Champions League group-stage format at a meeting of its shareholders on Wednesday.

UEFA's proposals include scrapping the round-robin stage - where currently eight groups of four clubs play each other home and away - and replacing it with a format in which clubs would play 10 different opponents and qualification would come from one league table.

The plans could also see an increase from 32 teams to 36, as well as a change to the coefficient used to seed teams.

The Premier League is keen to work alongside UEFA in a collaborative and constructive manner, while ensuring a competitive balance between domestic and European football is maintained.

After discussing the proposals in detail on Wednesday, they raised concerns around the number of matches and when they would be played, insisting that the new group stage is concluded by December to leave January free for domestic competitions.

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Image: UEFA's proposals would see the current group-stage format replaced by one league table

With the potential expansion to 36 teams, France's Ligue1 would gain an extra qualifying spot, while the remaining three places would be awarded based on recent performances of teams competing in the Champions League.

As a result, the Premier League is calling for an adjustment to the 'access route' system, arguing that those three extra spots should be decided instead by recent domestic performance.

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Talks between the Premier League and UEFA are ongoing.

The current Champions League format often results in 'dead rubbers' with the top teams qualifying with a game or two to spare.

UEFA hopes the new model would allow for more games that matter, generating higher revenues and greater fan interest.

The plan, dubbed the 'Swiss model', has yet to meet any major resistance and was backed by European Club Association chief Andrea Agnelli, the president of Juventus.

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