Fans have accused UEFA of ruining football after a video explaining the new format of the Champions League was released.
The 23/24 season will be the final season of the original Champions League, where it goes from the group stage, last 16, quarter-final, semi-final to the final.
From next season onwards, Europe’s premier club competition will have a different format.
A single group of 36 teams will replace the format of eight groups of four, with each side playing eight matches during the new group stage. Four will be at home and four away.
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Following the group stage, all teams will be formatted into a table with the top eight sides automatically qualifying for the round of 16 while clubs finishing between ninth and 24th will enter a play-off round for the eight remaining places.
Once that process has commenced, ongoings in the Champions League will proceed as normal with a two-legged round of 16, quarter-final and semi-final before the eventual final.
UEFA have now released a detailed video which explains all the changes. Similar changes will also take place in the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Conference League. You can watch the footage below.
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Reacting on social media, one fan said: “You guys have completely spoiled this beautiful game.”
Another tweeted: “Super League by another name.”
A third fan added: “Football has officially fallen off.”
Someone else wrote: “Just leave it the way it was, stop ruining the game.”
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A fifth commented: “How’s that exciting? Just don’t touch it when it’s working…”
Two years ago, Jurgen Klopp was asked about the new Champions League format, he said: “Who read this concept properly and says ‘oh that’s perfect’ and who tells me now that’s not about money? It’s a joke!
“I said before with the Nations League with more games, I said before when FIFA wanted to have a Club World Cup – they don’t ask, they just introduce it. What’s the reason for that? Money.”
Topics: Champions League, Football, UEFA, Fan Reactions
Marcus Chan