Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, and Chelsea would have been joined by Everton, Newcastle and Tottenham in Europe’s top club competition if seven English teams were granted entry as Michel Platini has this afternoon thrown forward as a suggestion as part of a gargantuan 64 team tournament.
UEFA President Michel Platini has announced that the governing body of European football are considering a Super Champions League in place of the Europa League. We took to twitter to gauge initial reactions from fans.
The longevity of the Europa League has come into question over the last couple of weeks with reports suggesting that the competition has no future, that it is simply a tournament where the biggest sides in Europe decide to give their best players a rest and blood some younger players for experience.
UEFA has reacted to this by stating that they are considering a much bigger Champions League which would see a larger group stage and the liquidation of the former UEFA Cup, one of the most historic competitions in European football.
We logged onto Twitter to see the initial reaction of fans to a 64 side Champions League tournament. It’s quite obvious the news hasn’t gone down well but there are some supporters of the proposal.
Against
@amylawrence71 – Europa League could be scrapped in favour of 64-team Champions League? Noooooooooo! Whose dopey idea was that? http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/nov/28/uefa-europa-league-champions-league?CMP=twt_gu …
@andyecfc – A 64 team champions league? Not really a champions league any more then is it.
@MarkHatley1878 – Scraping the Europa League to make a 64 team Champions League would ruin it. What happened to it just being for Europe’s elite
@OptaParody – 7 – Presumably they will also change the name of ‘The Champions League’ if they start letting the 7th best team in England in. Irony
@da_yellaman – Remember when the Champions League was just for league champions….?? #UCL
@SamThrush1 – UEFA’s plans to create a 64 team Champions League is ridiculous.
@TrademarkHound – Expanding the ‘Champions’ League is up there with the worst ideas in the history of football, bring back 3 European competitions! #AMF
@alexwinter24 – I don’t get how the Champions League can be a League of Champions if second-rate Europa League teams get chucked in it?
@Suneil_A – Michel Platini, Do us all a favour. Sit down, shut up and leave the Champions League alone. Thanks, Everyone
@SamuelLewis11 – Maybe if the Champions league is increased to 1000 teams, Liverpool may stand a chance of qualifying.
For
@ReekaayOnline – Imagine having a 64 team champions league! Would be amazing!
@HongSchlong – Good idea, straight knockout, good chance for the minnows to do well and for decent players to play champions league I.e. Ben Arfa
@DanUppal – Looks like Liverpool are gonna get a huge chance to get back into champions league!! Just gotta climb the table first!
@raokrishna – Champions League could be doubled. Should be fun.
What do you think? Are plans to extend the Champions League to 64 teams a good idea?
images: © Jan S0L0, © klearchos
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