UEFA to debate Champions League reform

UEFA insist there is still a long way to go before they decide to rubber-stamp plans to allow domestic cup winners to enter the Champions League.

New president Michel Platini has drawn up a number of reforms for Europe’s top club competition, which are set to be discussed by top football officials in August.

Among the proposal is a plan to replace clubs qualifying from league positions with those who emerge triumphant in their country’s national cup competition.

North of the border, that would mean the Tennent’s Scottish Cup winners being represented in the Champions League, rather than the Bank of Scotland Premier League runners-up.

However, UEFA spokesman William Gaillard was keen to point out the proposal is still at an early stage and may not come to fruition.

He said: “There are a number of proposals on the table which will be discussed by the UEFA Committee and Strategic Council.

“Among those is the proposal to substitute the last team qualifying through league position for the cup winners but it is just a proposal at the moment.

“There is still to be a debate and meetings will be held at the end of August and a final decision made in September.

“It still has to be endorsed by the Strategic Council and approved by the Executive Committee so there is still a long way to go and the status quo could remain.”

The Scottish Premier League have already said they will oppose the plans.

The SPL’s stance is firm, with the league determined to protect Scotland’s current system whereby the two leading teams go into the Champions League.

UEFA Cup places are currently allocated to the third-placed team and the Scottish Cup winners.

SPL chairman Lex Gold told the Daily Mail: “One of the proposals on the table from Platini’s people is for cup holders to play off against each other for Champions League entry.

“That would be at the expense of our second place, which currently goes to the runners-up in the SPL.

“I was told we would have an automatic place in the group stages for our champions but, while handing us one thing, UEFA are looking at taking something else away.

“We would oppose vehemently any move to push Scottish Cup holders into the Champions League. We would not want to see that happen at the expense of the SPL runners-up and are making representations.”