UEFA acts on overkill claims

UEFA is to scrap the second group phase of the Champions League in a year's time due to concern over player burn-out and television overkill.

European football's governing body rubber-stamped the decision yesterday, despite opposition from leading clubs such as Manchester United.

From the 2003/2004 season, the Champions League will continue to have 32 clubs in a first-round league format with eight groups of four but will then go straight into a last-16 two-leg knockout system.