UEFA has announced the formation of a third-tier European club competition which will run from 2021.
The new competition is a result of “widespread demand”, according to Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin.
The new competition will sit below the current Champions League and Europa League. The winner of the new competition will earn a place in the Europa League.
The new competition will have 32 teams, and have a familiar format.
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It will consist of eight groups of four who will compete to qualify for a round of 16. Just as teams who finish third in their Champions League groups play in the Europa League knockouts, teams who finish third in their Europa League group will go down into this new competition.
However, qualification will be determined by a playoff between the Europa League team and the teams who finish second in the new competition’s group stage.
“The new club competition makes Uefa’s club competitions more inclusive than ever before,” Ceferin said.
“There will be more matches for more clubs, with more associations represented in the group stages. This competition was borne out of ongoing dialogue with clubs through the European Club Association (ECA).
“There was a widespread demand by all clubs to increase their chances of participating more regularly in European competition.
“This has been achieved with a strategic approach, and in accordance with Uefa’s objective of having both more quality and more inclusivity in our club competitions.”
ECA chairman Andrea Agnelli said the news was testament to the collaboration between ECA and Uefa.
“I am delighted that the Uefa Executive Committee has agreed to the changes ECA member clubs have been calling for,” said Agnelli.
“We believe that this outcome ensures that the Uefa club competitions continue to develop in a manner which is fair and balanced, meeting the demands and requirements necessary to ensure that football remains the number one sport globally.
“I would like to add that this whole process is testimony to the strong collaborative efforts of both ECA and Uefa at all levels.”
