UEFA might be deciding to make a few changes to their two premier tournaments, the Champions League and the Europe League.
Both these tournaments are currently stuck in limbo and can only be finished once the various domestic tournaments across Europe are wrapped up. And as per the UEFA’s president Aleksander Ceferin, the UCL and UEL are likely to be finished in the month of August.
“We have an idea but we have to wait for the executive committee of UEFA to confirm the dates. I can say that the European season will be finished, if everything is as it is now, in August,” he had said, as per Standard.
“As things look now, I’m sure… that we can finish the European season and this means UEFA competition. I think the majority of leagues will finish the season.
“The ones who will not, it’s their decision. But they will still have to play qualifiers if they want to participate in the European UEFA competition.
“Paris St Germain and Lyon… will have to organise (matches) in France, if this is not possible, (they) will have to organise it at a neutral ground. If you cannot play in your country, then you have to organise it at a neutral ground… I don’t see the reason why French authorities would not allow them to organise a match without spectators, but let’s see. It’s out of my power.”
Now as per the latest reports, UEFA might be planning to make two very big changes to the Champions League as well as the Europa League in order to wrap up the 2019-20 season in time.
Play all the matches in one city?
UEFA might be planning to scrap the two-legged tie option meaning the games could be decided in a knockout fashion. This obviously will happen once the remaining second leg matches for the Round of 16 are done with.
“UEFA’s idea is to play the Champions League and Europa League, starting from the quarter-finals, across one match in one venue although nothing has been confirmed yet,” Torres told Spanish radio station Cadena COPE, as reported.
“They will come to a decision on 17 June (when the executive committee meets).”
Champions League & Europa League finals to be shifted?
The Champions League final is scheduled to be held in Istanbul, Turkey while the Europa League finale will take place in Gdansk. But now as per the updates, the governing body of football in Europe might be planning to shift the two matches to Lisbon.
“A working group has been set up with the participation of representatives from the leagues and clubs to examine calendar solutions and format options that would allow for the completion of the current season,” said a UEFA spokesman, according to the NY Times.
“A variety of options is being looked at and no decisions have been made at this stage.”
Nothing has been etched in stone as of now but things are certainly not looking great for UEFA and we feel they will have no other option but to trim down the format in order to wrap it up before September.
