Letter from Monaco: Ireland drifts further to the margins of UEFA's 'meritocracy'

Amid the glitz, glamour and excess of the Côte d'Azur, European football gets ready to expand and leave the lesser lights further dimmed

VVIP LANE: UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin gestures as he arrives for the 2023/24 UEFA Europa League group stage draw at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, Friday, Sept. 1, 2023. Pic: AP Photo/Daniel Cole

Champions League fever in Ireland usually peaks in July but it's September before the real stuff kicks off in the eyes of UEFA.

A trip to Monte Carlo this week as part of UEFA’s jury for the player and coach of the year presented a window to view up close the razmataz around what they consider the best competition on the planet.