UEFA considers three proposed changes to new Champions League format

With the semi-finals of the reformed Champions League just around the corner, UEFA is already discussing possible changes for next season. The first season of the new structure, which features 36 clubs and a league system instead of the traditional group stage, has raised several points of contention that could lead to adjustments.

UEFA is currently gathering feedback from clubs on the new format. The Club Competitions Committee, which includes Bayer Leverkusen managing director Fernando Carro, will meet on 30 May in Munich to discuss possible changes and propose recommendations to UEFA's executive committee, led by Borussia Dortmund director Hans-Joachim Watzke.

According to SPORT PICTURE, some important changes are being considered.

One of the proposed changes is to remove the 30-minute extra time in the knockout rounds and instead decide the winner on penalties if the score is level after 90 minutes. This change would aim to reduce the physical strain on the players.

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Another suggestion is to reward clubs that finish in the top eight of the league stage with home advantage for the second legs of the quarter-finals and semi-finals. Currently, this benefit only applies to the round of 1, where the clubs that finish higher in the league stage play the second leg at home.

The proposal comes after criticism from Arsenal, who were due to play the second leg of their quarter-final against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu despite finishing third in the league stage, eight places ahead of the reigning champions. Despite the disadvantage, Arsenal won 3-0 and 2-1. In the semi-finals, Paris Saint-Germain will again have the second leg at home, despite finishing 15th in the league stage.

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A third proposed change is the reinstatement of the “country protection” rule, which would prevent clubs from the same country from meeting in the knockout stages before the quarter-finals. This was a feature of the old format, but under the new system, teams from the same country have already faced each other in the play-offs and the round of 1, as was the case with PSG against Brest, Bayern Munich against Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid against Atletico Madrid.

UEFA hopes this change would make matches in the early stages more attractive to fans and broadcasters.

UEFA's decision could affect the future of the competition and clubs and fans are awaiting the final decision on these potential changes. /Telegraph/