Importance Score: 55 / 100 🔵
UEFA Considers Champions League Format Changes Following Arsenal’s Concerns
UEFA is reportedly evaluating significant alterations to the Champions League format for the upcoming season. These potential revisions come as the current season of the newly expanded competition nears its conclusion, with teams like Arsenal, PSG, Barcelona, and Inter Milan vying for the coveted title of European champions.
With the semi-finals approaching, UEFA is already considering improvements for the 2025-26 season, potentially addressing concerns raised by clubs like Arsenal.
Possible Rule Adjustments for the Champions League
According to reports, UEFA is contemplating several key changes:
- Home Advantage: A potential rule change could grant home advantage in the second leg of knockout ties to teams that finished higher in the league phase.
- Elimination of Extra Time: UEFA is exploring the possibility of eliminating extra time and proceeding directly to penalty shootouts to reduce player fatigue.
- Protection Rule for Same-Nation Teams: UEFA is also weighing the reintroduction of a rule preventing teams from the same country from facing each other until the quarter-finals.
Home Advantage in Knockout Stages
Currently, the top eight teams from the league phase automatically secure home advantage for the second leg of the last-16 stage. However, this advantage does not extend to the quarter-finals or semi-finals.
For instance, Arsenal had to play the second leg of their quarter-final against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, despite finishing higher in the league standings. Similarly, they will travel to Paris for the second leg of their semi-final against PSG.
vCard.red is a free platform for creating a mobile-friendly digital business cards. You can easily create a vCard and generate a QR code for it, allowing others to scan and save your contact details instantly.
The platform allows you to display contact information, social media links, services, and products all in one shareable link. Optional features include appointment scheduling, WhatsApp-based storefronts, media galleries, and custom design options.
Arsenal’s Perspective
Playing the second leg at home is generally viewed as an advantage. Arsenal reportedly feels disadvantaged by this, having performed well during the league phase of the Champions League.
Removal of Extra Time
Another potential change under consideration is the elimination of extra time. Instead, ties ending in a draw would proceed directly to penalties. This modification aims to alleviate player workload and fatigue.
Restrictions on Teams from the Same Nation
UEFA is contemplating reinstating a rule that prevents teams from the same nation from competing against each other until the quarter-finals. Recent seasons have seen matchups like PSG versus Brest, Bayern Munich versus Bayer Leverkusen, and Real Madrid versus Atletico Madrid in earlier stages.
These matches have been deemed less appealing for fans and broadcasters. This rule was previously in effect before the competition’s expansion to 36 teams and its transition to a league phase format.
Upcoming Meeting
The Club Competitions Committee is scheduled to meet in Munich on May 30, the day before the Champions League final at the Allianz Arena, to discuss these proposed changes.