Clubs back down on Champions League format

THE G14 grouping of Europe’s most powerful club reluctantly backed down yesterday and agreed to accept controversial changes to the Champions League — starting next season.

At the same time, four new clubs, including Arsenal, were added to the influential body bringing the total number of G14 representatives to 18 but the name remains unchanged.

Last month, despite retaining 32 teams, UEFA announced it was discarding the second group phase of the Champions League from 2003-4,

reverting back to a two-leg knockout system in response to growing concerns about meaningless matches and declining television audiences.

Many European clubs immediately objected, accusing UEFA of acting independently without consultation.

But at their general assembly in Monaco the G14 issued a statement saying their members had reluctantly accepted the changes ''provided the commitment of UEFA to improve the consultation process with regard to any future change is fully respected''.

Manchester United chief executive Peter Kenyon, one of four G14 vice-presidents, virtually admitted the organisation had very little choice.

He said: "There is a sense of disappointment because in the UK audiences are still increasing."

The G14 also welcomed Arsenal into their fold along with German side Bayer Leverkusen, Spain's Valencia and French big guns Lyon.

First Round of the UEFA Cup: PSG v Ujpesti; Sporting Lisbon v Partizan Belgrade; Legia Warsaw v FC Utrecht; Real Betis v Zimbru Chisinau FK; Sarajevo v Besiktas; CSKA Moscow v Parma; Levski Sofia v Brondby; Anderlecht v Stabaek National; Bucuresti v Heerenveen; Lazio v FC Xanthi; Ipswich v FK Sartid; Maccabi Tel-Aviv v Boavista; AIK v Fenerbahce; Sparta Prague v Siroki Brijeg; Austria Vienna v Shakhtar Donetsk; Denizlispor v Lorient; Chelsea v Viking Hapoel; Tel-Aviv v FC Karnten; VfB Stuttgart v FK Ventspils; Dinamo Zagreb v Zalaegerszeg; FC Copenhagen v Djurgarden; Viktoria Zizkov v Rangers; Vitesse Arnhem v Rapid Bucharest; Leeds v Metalurg Zaporizhzhya; Servette v Amica Wronki; Sturm Graz v Livingston; Ferencvaros v Kocaelispor; Zeljeznicar Sarajevo v Malaga; Bordeaux v Puchov Slovan; Liberec v Dinamo Tblisi; Leixoes v PAOK; Liteks Lovech v Panathinaikos; Crvena Zvezda v Chievo; Hajduk Split v Fulham; NK Primorje v Wisla; Krakow Graz AK v APOEL Nicosia; Celta Vigo v Odense; Metalurg Donetsk v Werder Bremen; Celtic v FK Suduva; Porto v Polonia Warsaw ;Gomel v Schalke; Grasshoppers v Zenit; St Petersburg Ankaragucu v Alaves; Anorthosis Famagusta v Iraklis FC; Midtjylland v Varteks; CSKA Sofia v Blackburn; Slavia Prague v Excelsior Mouscron.

First legs will be played on September 19.

Second legs are due to be played on October 3.