FAW’s Head of Competitions backs revamped Champions League format
(Image: Matthew Lofthouse)
The Football Association of Wales’ Head of Competitions, Andrew Howard, has given his backing to the revamped format of the UEFA Champions League.
Changes to Europe’s top club competition will see the number of teams increased from 32 to 36 teams.
Clubs will play at least 10 league-stage games against ten different opponents, playing both home and away five times.
Both the Europa League and the new third-tier competition the UEFA Conference League will also have a similar model.
Howard, who has been in his role for more than 17 years, backed the move made by European football’s governing body, which was rubber-stamped today.
Posted on his Twitter account, he said: “I welcome UEFA’s new format for club competitions to be introduced for 24/25 season.
“The dream of any team in Europe being able to qualify for European Group Stages is so important.
“If the UECL can be extended to 36 clubs, there is real opportunity for future Welsh representation.”
In the current format, The winner of this season’s Cymru Premier will enter the first qualifying ground of next season’s Champions League, meanwhile the three clubs below them will compete in the Europa Conference League.
No Welsh side has qualified for the group stages of a European competition since its revised format in 1992.
The New Saints almost qualified for the Europa League in 2010/11 but were defeated by CSKA Sofia 5-2 on aggregate in the final qualifying stage.
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