UEFA approves new competition

[PeterParker]

UEFA's first new 'Nations League' - the competition which is being brought in to replace a number of friendly dates - will be played between September and November 2018, it has been announced.

Each country will play six matches in the new tournament, which will see UEFA's 52 countries split into four divisions, each with four groups of three or four teams.

The winners of the four groups in division A - which will be made up the strongest teams - will play semi-finals and final in June 2019 to become the UEFA Nations League champions.

The four semi-finalists will also qualify automatically for the finals of Euro 2020, which is being played in 13 countries across Europe with the final at London's Wembley stadium.

UEFA said in a statement: "The key driver of the UEFA Nations League is sporting integrity, as member associations, coaches, players and supporters increasingly feel that friendly internationals are not providing adequate sporting competition.

"In addition, the competition will help UEFA realise its stated goal of improving the quality and standing of national team football while maintaining the balance between club and international football.

"The competition will establish the UEFA Nations League champions every odd year while also allowing all nations to play competitively at their level."

The independent

So basically we won't have friendlies anymore, however, teams won't be able to experiment that much with new players around the main squad.

[Cocacolajojo1]

They are fucking idiots. It's not like we need a second EC.

[nottsblue]

Dullesville.

Struggle to get excited for regular international games. This will ne no different

[Nigels Tackle]

the england dna programme will be fully bedded in by then so we should win this comfortably ever year

[Mikhail Chigorin]

A new EUFA competition ??

Yawn, yawn........ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

[mr_nool]

I hate this idea on so many levels.

By the way Cocacolajojo, what happened with your break from this place? Is it time that we had an intervention, you bloody mancityfans.net crackhead?

[BlueinBosnia]

Bad news for the 'big' nations that will now have to field competitive teams for this.

Bad news for the 'small' nations who rely a significant amount on the tourism and television coverage that matches against nations with large followings bring.

Bad news for those fans that like to follow their national football team to the far-flung corners of the continent.

Great news for sponsors, who can now selectively choose which nations to target with their deals. Likewise for broadcasters, for larger nations, who will get increased viewerships.

[john@staustell]

Another pile of UEFA crap

[Peter Doherty (AGAIG)]

Another pile of UEFA crap

Beautifully put. I think interest in international football is waning hence this fucking pile of shite. It won't work but no doubt will help fuck up another season as it's ruined this one so far.

[Ted Hughes]

All around Europe, you'll have English, Dutch, Irish, Belgians, Germans, Greeks, Spaniards, Scots, Norwegians, Swedes, Welsh, French, Fins, Italians et all, saying "oh for fuck's sake they're at it again" (in various languages) & like with FIFA, none of us can do anything about it.

It's kind of funny really. Non of us voted for them but they tell us all how it will be.

[Cocacolajojo1]

By the way Cocacolajojo, what happened with your break from this place? Is it time that we had an intervention, you bloody mancityfans.net crackhead?

I did stay away for like two months or something like that, but look what happened? Slim stopped posting. Arjan stopped posting. BiB more or less stopped posting. It seems I am the glue that brings everyone together. I can't leave this site now, it'll fall apart.

[Hutch's Shoulder]

Can't wait. Hope they use the 'iconic' Champions League music for it too, and Martin Tyler commentates.

[Nickyboy]

I quite like the idea. Loads of people say international footy should be tiered, so I'm happy they've taken this step

[john68]

Whilst superficially, I'd agree that it all seems a load of nonsense, It could actually be a very shrewd move for UeFA in their battle with the old elite and FIFA.

In their battle with FIFA, we must not forget that both associations can only regulate competitions they control.About 75% of football's global income is earned within the European area, yet with one nation = one vote, Europe is extremely disenfranchised. By founding a new European competition, UeFA increase their control of international football. The WC is run by a corrupt group. Should Europeannational Assocs decide to withdraw, they already have an alternative competition to go to. Add a few invited teams and you have a top quality comp without the small African/Asian etc nations and by tiering it, you have already designed an inbuilt separation of top nations from lesser teams.

[john68]

Following on from my previous post...

We know that currently there are negotiations ongoing to set up a European Super League. This would be done with or without the support of UeFa and take 15 - 20 of the top European clubs away from normal competition.

As it stands, it would severely weaken UeFA and hand major control of the finances to these few invited clubs. The Memorandum of Understanding ends in 2018, so there is little or nothing UeFA could do to stop it.

To set up such a league, the nine elite clubs would need the backing of a number of 2nd tier clubs, eg Juventus, Benfica, Galatasary Porto etc. Without their support, a nine team league would not be a viable commodity to sell on the global footie market.

We have seen proposed changes to the infrastructure of the CL, changes to seeding,coefficients and even discussions regarding changes to the FFPrs. All of those changes if passed would negatively impact the elite clubs.

By setting up a new International European competition, they bypass the clubs and speak directly to the players. As it would be a UeFA regulated comp, they could ban players from the elite clubs from representing their countries. UeFA would have control.

The National Assocs would certainly back a UeFA move, as any breakaway would see them losing the bigger clubs andmoney earners from their domestic leagues.

Give it a thought

[Mikhail Chigorin]

Following on from my previous post...

We know that currently there are negotiations ongoing to set up a European Super League. This would be done with or without the support of UeFa and take 15 - 20 of the top European clubs away from normal competition.

As it stands, it would severely weaken UeFA and hand major control of the finances to these few invited clubs. The Memorandum of Understanding ends in 2018, so there is little or nothing UeFA could do to stop it.

To set up such a league, the nine elite clubs would need the backing of a number of 2nd tier clubs, eg Juventus, Benfica, Galatasary Porto etc. Without their support, a nine team league would not be a viable commodity to sell on the global footie market.

We have seen proposed changes to the infrastructure of the CL, changes to seeding,coefficients and even discussions regarding changes to the FFPrs. All of those changes if passed would negatively impact the elite clubs.

By setting up a new International European competition, they bypass the clubs and speak directly to the players. As it would be a UeFA regulated comp, they could ban players from the elite clubs from representing their countries. UeFA would have control.

The National Assocs would certainly back a UeFA move, as any breakaway would see them losing the bigger clubs andmoney earners from their domestic leagues.

Give it a thought

I think that you think too much John.

I like it.