The UEFA Champions League has long been seen as the premier European football competition, both in its previous guise as the European Cup, and more latterly in its newer format.
It was harder to win when only the champions from each country played against each other, which is why UEFA decided to introduce a league format, and one suspects this probably had as much to do with generating revenue as anything else.
More teams equals more matches equals more rounds of matches and more money for UEFA’s coffers.
There was little wrong with the competition in its original format, although it seems that nothing can stand in the way of progress.
The only potential problem with this is that the tradition then falls away and opens up the possibility of making decisions that are really not in line with the values of the competition.
An example is the news that UEFA is considering moving the Champions League final to the United States of America in 2026.
According to the Sports Business Journal, citing an interview UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin had with Men in Blazer’s Roger Bennett on the MIB podcast, there have already been discussions about whether such a move is a viable option.
One can only assume that the idea is being considered for revenue generation and sponsorship as no other possible explanation makes sense.
Once the final moves out of Europe, what am I saying it won’t happen again, and where would that leave the fans of the two clubs who played in the final, and who would want to be there?
Some things are better left alone. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Clicks on ADS 👇👇
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