UEFA is considering pursuing its large Champions League revamp with the removal of extra-time successful the competition, it has been claimed.
This play is the archetypal successful which the contention - on with the Europa League and Conference League - has adopted its caller Swiss-style system. It means teams nary longer look home-and-away meetings with the aforesaid opponents, alternatively competing successful a azygous 36-team table.
The knockout stages of the 2024-25 variation person present been set, with eight teams progressing straight to the circular of 16 and different 16 playing disconnected for a accidental to articulation them. However, the fig of minutes played by already overworked players is thought to beryllium a origin successful the discussions presently underway.
As things stand, knockout ties are two-legged affairs which spell to extra-time if scores are level, with the distant goals regularisation scrapped successful 2021. This could soon change, though.
According to The Guardian, the projected changes are being fixed "serious consideration" wrong UEFA. However, it has been suggested that immoderate changes are improbable to travel into unit earlier 2027, and person lone been raised informally astatine this stage.
The discussions travel aft players and their unions person taken contented with the expanded calendar and the wounded hazard it presents. In summation to continental tournaments, 2025 volition beryllium the archetypal twelvemonth to adhd an expanded Club World Cup, with 32 teams owed to instrumentality portion successful the summertime contention successful the United States.
“Players and their unions person asked to beryllium listened to and to beryllium a cardinal portion of these processes," the Professional Footballers' Association said successful September. "When they are ignored past the earthy effect is that players volition statesman to see each options disposable to them."
Should the Champions League scrap extra-time? Have your accidental successful the comments section
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UEFA via Getty Images)The PFA's comments came soon aft Manchester City prima Rodri warned a players' onslaught was a existent concern. "I deliberation we're adjacent to that," the Spanish planetary said. "It's the wide sentiment of the players, and if it keeps this way, we'll person nary different option. I truly deliberation it's thing that worries us. We are the guys who suffer.”
Rodri played 64 times for nine and state suring the 2023-24 season, winning the Premier League with City and the Euros with Spain. He could person been successful enactment for adjacent much enactment this term, with City 1 of the teams successful the Club World Cup acknowledgment to their 2022-23 Champions League win, lone for an ACL wounded to regularisation him retired for the bulk of the campaign.
"Not everything is astir wealth oregon marketing. It's astir the prime of show," the midfielder added successful September, conscionable days earlier suffering his semipermanent wounded against Arsenal. "In my opinion, erstwhile I'm not tired, I execute better. If radical privation to spot amended football, past we request to rest."
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