Euro revolt could work for big two

[ian1964 10,870]

THE Old Firm are monitoring sensational plans for a breakaway European league.

 

Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has claimed the new set up will start in 2014/15 unless football's top brass cave in to demands from the big clubs.

 

The massive overhaul would involve cutting La Liga and England's Premier League from 20 to 16 teams. It would also see the expansion of the Champions League and a switch to weekend games in Europe's top tourney.

 

Both Rangers and Celtic are watching developments in a bid to cash in on any changes to the European landscape.

 

Rosell, vice-chairman of the powerful European Club Association, said: "If UEFA and the ECA reach an agreement, we would like to increase the Champions League under the umbrella of UEFA.

 

"If not, the ECA is entitled to organise their own competition."

 

The current peace deal between UEFA and the clubs runs out in 2014.

 

Rosell said the major clubs would not sign a new agreement with UEFA or a similar treaty with FIFA unless the governing bodies gave them what they wanted.

 

The incredible demands include:

 

EXPANDED Champions League with up to eight teams from one country competing and games played at weekends

 

TOTAL revamp of the international calendar, including the reduction or even abolition of friendly matches

 

CLUBS paid to release players to take part in the World Cup, European Championship and other tournaments

 

A BIGGER share of the money generated by football and a greater say in how the game's run.

 

Rosell wants La Liga to be shrunk to let Barca fix up lucrative friendly matches and to free weekends for Champions League clashes which would draw huge worldwide TV audiences.

 

He admits that the other major European leagues would also have to downsize.

 

Rosell, speaking at the Aspire 4 Sport conference in Qatar, said: "We would like to have a Champions League with more teams.

 

"We hope FIFA and UEFA will hear what we want to tell them. The worst case scenario is that we will go away from UEFA."

 

Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3937655/Euro-revolt-could-work-for-big-two.html#ixzz1dr0DnT5R