Platini’s cup winners’ plan axed

UEFA president Michel Platini’s controversial plan for cup winners to qualify for the Champions League has been rejected.

Platini had proposed to open up a qualifying place for domestic Cup winners instead of handing it to the lowest-placed top league finishers.

But his proposal was turned down at a meeting of top European officials.

However, six new countries will earn automatic Champions League status, increasing the teams from 16 to 22.

Platini had outlined his plans to UEFA’s European Professional Football Strategy Council, a 16-member group comprising of officials from Europe’s leagues, associations and clubs in Nyon, Switzerland.

The new changes will be ratified at UEFA’s executive committee meeting in Lucerne on 1 December.

With 22 teams automatically qualifying for the Champions League, Platini had planned to supplement the 10 remaining places through a separate qualifying route.

The Frenchman had suggested domestic Cup winners should also be included in the draw for the final 10 places.

This would have meant the fourth-placed Premier League team would not qualify for the final Champions League slot, which would instead go to the FA Cup winners.

It was this proposal that faced the strongest opposition from the Strategy Council, which asked for more time for consideration when Platini first unveiled his plans in August.

The plan has been opposed by the G14, the body which represents 18 of Europe’s leading clubs including Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal, who said any change would devalue the reputation of the Champions League.

Their view was backed by Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger. “You have to be careful not to change the Champions League too much by bringing in even more weaker teams because you could find yourself with games with no meaning,” he said.