UEFA determined to agree plans for a new-look Champions League by the end of the month

UEFA is determined to finalise the new-look Champions League by the end of February, despite ‘strong concern’ about the plans being expressed at a key meeting today.

The governing body is working at breakneck speed to agree a new format for its highly lucrative flagship competition after being ‘spooked’ by the re-emergence of the European Super League proposals, last month.

Sportsmail understands that UEFA had originally hoped to agree the new version of the competition with more teams and an amended structure towards the end of the season.

UEFA is committed to reforming the Champions League to create more matches and revenue

However, after reviewing the super league plan, officials thought UEFA’s Executive Committee should sign off the new Champions League format as early as Friday next week. 

That now looks less likely after the European Leagues, a representative body that includes the Premier League, challenged key parts of the proposals, but UEFA remains determined to press on and sources say they want to gain agreement this month.

UEFA’s plans were presented to an Extraordinary General Meeting of the representative leagues’ body today.

UEFA wants to push through changes to the Champipns League by the end of the month

It put forward plans to expand the Champions League from 32 to 36 teams and revise the structure with an increase in group stage matches from six to 10, beginning in the autumn of 2024.

The new format would use the so-called ‘Swiss model’, popular in chess, in which clubs are all in one division and drawn against ten other teams based on seeding, before going through to the knock-out stage.

The aim is to increase the revenue, overhaul a stale format making it more attractive to broadcasters and generate more games between the continent’s top clubs.

Clubs with recent history of European success could have a protected route into  competition

In a direct response to the European Super League pushed by the biggest clubs, including Real Madrid and Manchester United, a safety net would be provided for the wealthiest teams,

Two of the additional places would offer a protected route into the competition for big clubs based on previous records in European competition, even if they don’t qualify through league position.

One place would go to a league champion with the best record in Europe – this season that would have been Ajax – and one place would go to Ligue 1 in France.

However, the European Leagues today expressed concerned that 10 group phase games would put too much pressure on domestic fixture schedules. Sportsmail understands the leagues would  prefer eight matches at that stage.

In addition, it is understood they want all four places to be claimed by league champions and not used to protect the interests of the biggest clubs, which would hand them further advantage in domestic competition.

Furthermore, it is understood they want the revenue distribution model for the competition to be finalised before the new format is agreed.

In a statement, the body said: ‘The European Leagues have raised strong concerns about more matchdays of such a flexible system in an already very congested calendar. They also questioned the possible impact of access as well as commercial components on the sporting and financial balance of domestic leagues. Finally, they discussed several options regarding financial redistribution.’

Now, UEFA will have to decide how it addresses the European Leagues concerns, which could include commitments around revenue distribution, or accepting changes, but that may not pacify those clubs, like Real Madrid, prepared to break away.

Despite the setback, UEFA, under the leadership of President Aleksander Ceferin, will be determined to push ahead and officials are due to speak to the European football associations early next week in another key meeting.

This may also prove problematic, since smaller associations will be looking for reassurance that they will benefit from greater revenues. 

However,officials are driven on by the fear that a break away super league would wreck their own competition and UEFA’s finances.

They were shocked to discover the extent of the financial and legal structures already taking shape for the rival European Super League, when details were leaked last month. 

UEFA believes its own competition is now under genuine threat.

As a result, it has fast-tracked consultation with stakeholders, which includes the European Clubs Association, fan groups, the European Leagues and national football associations. 

And an insider has told Sportsmail  it is expected there will be ‘agreement over the coming weeks’ on the governing body’s plans.

‘It’s not going to go on forever,’ said the source.

 UEFA could axe the competition’s current format and move to a ‘Swiss system’ of mini-leagues

But those involved in the consultation say a decision by the European body’s Executive Committee could come even sooner than that, if it can successfully negotiate with the critics, with the original intention to agree the new format by Friday next week.

‘UEFA have brought forward the decision making because they were spooked by the European Super League proposals,’ said a source, who has direct knowledge of the process.

‘They were at a more advanced level of development than anything they had seen before.’

Real Madrid’s Florentino Perez is said to be leading a campaign to form the £4.6bn European Super League tournament which would be a breakaway competition featuring only top clubs 

‘They want to prove to the wavering clubs they have something to offer them in the new format.’

Premier League clubs expressed their own concern on Thursday when they saw the UEFA proposals. A number of clubs were angry at the special status afforded to the wealthiest teams.

Under the proposals, three of the additional places would be decided using a coefficient that ranks clubs according their historical performance in European competition.

Under UEFA’s proposals teams with a good record in Europe could qualify for the Champions League even if they finished outside of the qualifying places, in a Europa League spot

Two of these would go to the highest ranked teams that fail to qualify for the Champions League, but finish in a Europa League spot.

The final place would go to the league champion with the highest coefficient from a country without an automatic qualifying place.

The use of coefficients would mean that if a club with a record of success in Europe during the last five years, like Tottenham, Manchester United, Liverpool or Arsenal, were to narrowly miss out on the Champions League they could be propelled into the competition.

Liverpool, owned by John Henry, was reportedly approached about the super league plan

Aleksander Ceferin, president of UEFA, sees a threat from the European Super League

Manchester United’s owners, Avram and Joel Glazer are reported to support super league plan

It would benefit recently successful and often wealthy clubs over challengers, such as Leicester City, West Ham United or Everton and enhance the financial gap between them.

Real Madrid’s president, Florentino Perez, is understood to be leading the breakaway super league project, with Manchester United and Liverpool’s owners, Avram and Joel Glazer and John Henry, respectively, reported to be interested in the scheme.

FIFA and the six continental confederations – including UEFA – have said they will not recognise.

Premier League executives were among those at the European Leagues’ meeting on Friday

FIFA has also warned any players involved in a Super League would be barred from international competitions such as the World Cup. 

The Football Supporters Europe Group said earlier this week that clubs required equal access to competition.

‘We believe all clubs must have an equal opportunity to qualify for European competitions based on hard work, determination, and skill, not the size of their balance sheet or past glories,’ it said in a statement signed by fan groups from the continent’s 200 biggest clubs.

And the group added: ‘We care first and foremost about how our clubs fare in domestic leagues and cups. We refuse to let them become second class competitions. We want to strengthen, not weaken them.’