The number of teams has been increased to 36 from the original 32, a change that has seen the number of matches over the course of the tournament increase to 189 matches from the previous 125. Players have spoken publicly about the team's increased workload. teams, claiming it could cause injuries.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin acknowledged the packed match calendar and emphasized UEFA's close collaboration with stakeholders to balance competitive expansion and safeguard player welfare.
"We had consulted with clubs, players' unions and medical experts to gather ideas and feedback on how to manage the increased workload without compromising the health of players. These consultations led to some beneficial changes; for example, we have established the rule of the five substitutions, initially "Introduced as a temporary measure during the COVID-19 pandemic, the permanent suspension of the health of our players is paramount and we will continue to monitor the situation closely," Ceferin told Xinhua news agency.
The new format was an inevitable change, and the European Super League proposal ruffled many feathers at UEFA headquarters as it threatened the very existence of the competition, forcing the governing body to increase the number of teams in the elite competition. .
"The new format is beautiful and I am already feeling a lot of positive reactions within the football community. Traditionally, people in our sport are hesitant about changes, but I believe this renewed format of European club competition will be successful on multiple fronts." Ceferín added.
"There are numerous advantages: tournaments will be more dynamic and unpredictable, teams will face a diverse range of opponents and each match will have significant sporting interest, as each goal could affect qualification or elimination. Furthermore, the new format will generate more income, benefiting the participating clubs and contributing to greater solidarity payments throughout the continent," he concluded.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin acknowledged the packed match calendar and emphasized UEFA's close collaboration with stakeholders to balance competitive expansion and safeguard player welfare.
"We had consulted with clubs, players' unions and medical experts to gather ideas and feedback on how to manage the increased workload without compromising the health of players. These consultations led to some beneficial changes; for example, we have established the rule of the five substitutions, initially "Introduced as a temporary measure during the COVID-19 pandemic, the permanent suspension of the health of our players is paramount and we will continue to monitor the situation closely," Ceferin told Xinhua news agency.
The new format was an inevitable change, and the European Super League proposal ruffled many feathers at UEFA headquarters as it threatened the very existence of the competition, forcing the governing body to increase the number of teams in the elite competition. .
"The new format is beautiful and I am already feeling a lot of positive reactions within the football community. Traditionally, people in our sport are hesitant about changes, but I believe this renewed format of European club competition will be successful on multiple fronts." Ceferín added.
"There are numerous advantages: tournaments will be more dynamic and unpredictable, teams will face a diverse range of opponents and each match will have significant sporting interest, as each goal could affect qualification or elimination. Furthermore, the new format will generate more income, benefiting the participating clubs and contributing to greater solidarity payments throughout the continent," he concluded.
