2016 European Championships at 10 stadiums across France

The 2016 European Championships will be held in 10 stadiums across nine French cities. This was confirmed by the UEFA Executive Committee on Friday as per what the French Football Federation had handed in to UEFA.

At its meeting at the House of European Football in the Swiss city of Nyon, the Executive Committee endorsed the following venues for the finals in three summers' time: Bordeaux, Lens, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Paris, Saint-Denis (Stade de France), Saint-Etienne and Toulouse.

Saint-Etienne and Toulouse had been left out of the original list, which also had included Nancy in a nine venue list but the FFF increased to 10 venues in nine cities later on.

Before the final tournament, UEFA's member associations will begin the qualifying competition for UEFA EURO 2016 in September 2014, following the qualifying competition draw the previous spring. The draw for the finals will take place at the end of 2015.

The 2016 edition would be the first European Championships to feature 24 teams instead of 16 which has been usual over the last few editions and this means more venues are needed to host the bigger tournament with more matches to be played.

UEFA confirms EURO2020 in 13 cities across the continent

The European governing body UEFA's Executive Committee has confirmed that the UEFA EURO 2020 will be held as "EURO for Europe" across 13 cities across the continent. It will give some countries and cities the opportunity to be part of a tournament that they may otherwise not be able to host.

The UEFA Executive Committee, chaired by UEFA President Michel Platini, approved the key event and football principles for the "EURO for Europe", which include

• The matches will be split into 13 different packages, with 12 ordinary packages including three group matches and one knockout round (round of 16 or quarterfinal), and one package for the semi-finals and the final;
• There will only be a maximum of one venue per country, meaning one stadium for each of the available 13 packages. Both semifinals and the final will be played in one stadium; and
• Each association will be allowed to present up to two bids, one for the ordinary package and one for the semifinals/final package. Each national association can decide to present the same city for these two bids or two different cities.

Projected stadiums will be admitted in the bidding process, with a deadline set in 2016 for the construction of any new stadium to start, failing which the decision on such a host city could be reviewed.

The required minimum net stadiums capacities should be

• 70,000 for semi-finals/final;
• 60,000 for quarter-finals;
• 50,000 for round of 16 and group matches; and
• Up to two exceptions would be allowed for stadiums of a net minimum capacity of 30,000 seats, limited to group matches and a round of 16 match.

All teams will participate in the qualifying competition and the 13 countries staging matches will therefore not be automatically qualified.


Michel Platini had made his revolutionary idea public last summer with now 12 cities across as many countries with the chance to host matches in the group stage with knockout matches to be played at a ideally neutral venue to give even opportunities to all UEFA member nations.

Platini is favouring the Turkish capital Istanbul, but if it is awarded the 2020 Olympics then another European capital would host the tournament.

Andres Iniesta named as UEFA Best Player in Europe!

Spain and FC Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta was today chosen and then handed the 2011/12 UEFA Best Player in Europe Award at the Grimaldi Forum in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Iniesta won the award ahead of club team mate Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo from CF Real Madrid.

The FC Barcelona midfielder, who helped Spain defend their 2012 UEFA European Championship title this summer in Poland and Ukraine, deservingly got the award for his great performances across the season for club and country. What makes it special is that Andres Iniesta finally won an award ahead of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who normally stand ahead of him in rankings and votings.

In a live poll of sports journalists representing each of UEFA's 53 member national associations, Andres Iniesta received 19 votes while Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo both received 17 votes.

It is interesting to note that no player from 2011/12 UEFA Champions League champions Chelsea FC and beaten finalist FC Bayern Munich made it into the top three with former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba coming seventh and his club mate Petr Cech as joint eighth within the top 10.

Positions four to ten were finalised after each journalist provided a list of their top five players, with the first receiving five points, the second four points and so on:

4. Andrea Pirlo (Juventus, ITALY) (90 points)
5. Xavi Hernández (FC Barcelona, SPAIN) (57 pts)
6. Iker Casillas (Real Madrid CF, SPAIN) (53 pts)
7. Didier Drogba (Chelsea FC; IVORY COAST) (31 pts)
8. Petr Cech (Chelsea FC, CZECH REPUBLIC) // Falcao (Club Atlético de Madrid, COLOMBIA) (14 pts)
10. Mesut Özil (Real Madrid CF, GERMANY) (10 pts)

Iniesta, Messi, Ronaldo nominated for UEFA Europe award

European football governing body UEFA has named the three finalists for the 2012 UEFA Best Player in Europe Award. The trio of Andrés Iniesta, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who all play in Spain, have made it to the final list and the winner would be announced on August 30 in Monaco.

Defending champion Lionel Messi, who won last years inaugural award, had an exceptional campaign scoring an incredible 50 goals, 14 of those coming in the UEFA Champions League which is a new record. Cristiano Ronaldo also scored an impressive 46 goals which won Real Madrid their first Spanish La Liga title in years, but the UEFA Champions League remains elusive to the record champions for over a decade now. Barca midfielder Andrés Iniesta is the third amongst the finalists, a team mate of Messi and a key player for Spain in their Euro2012 winning campaign.

It is interesting to note that no player from UEFA Champions League champions Chelsea FC and beaten finalist FC Bayern Munich made it into the top three with Chelsea striker Didier Drogba coming seventh and his club mate Petr Cech as joint eighth within the top 10.

The top three will now go into a deciding vote in Monaco during the UEFA Champions League group stage draw on 30 August. In Monaco the journalists will vote live, via an electronic system, for their best player from the shortlist of the final three.

Positions four to ten are already finalised after each journalist provided a list of their top five players, with the first receiving five points, the second four points and so on:

4. Andrea Pirlo (Juventus, ITALY) (90 points)
5. Xavi Hernández (FC Barcelona, SPAIN) (57 pts)
6. Iker Casillas (Real Madrid CF, SPAIN) (53 pts)
7. Didier Drogba (Chelsea FC; IVORY COAST) (31 pts)
8. Petr Cech (Chelsea FC, CZECH REPUBLIC) // Falcao (Club Atlético de Madrid, COLOMBIA) (14 pts)
10. Mesut Özil (Real Madrid CF, GERMANY) (10 pts)

UEFA under fire due to doctering Euro2012 Live TV-feed

The European football governing body UEFA is under fire because of showing recorded pre-match footage during live football matches of the 2012 European Championships in Poland and the Ukraine. Especially in Germany the outcry has been huge due to two instances where it was been proven that recorded footage had been placed into the live feed.

With the television feed produced centrally by UEFA and then distributed to all official rights holders, the channels themselves do not know what they are getting and if a scene is live or has been added by the live director.

The German state television broadcasters ARD and ZDF, who share the live rights for the Euro2012, had already protested after the first instance when Joachim Löw pinching a ball from a ball boy during his teams Group B match against the Netherlands. But later it was disclosed that the footage was pre-recorded and Löw didn't do such mischief during a high tension football match.

Then came the second instance which to me is even worse. A German female fan is shown crying after Mario Balotelli scores his second of the night against Germany. But again the footage was not live, it had actually been recorded when the German anthem was being played. A total distortion of facts and reality which is dangerous especially with off field football.

UEFA claims it was trying to show "the human story of the game... to translate the emotion and tension of German fans", but had now issued instructions "not to use these reactions again directly in a chain of replays of live action, to avoid any misleading understanding".


Here the footage of the Löw incidence, recorded pre-match & telecast as live

Denmark's Bendtner fined, suspended for goal celebration

European football governing body UEFA yesterday handed Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner a one match suspension and a fine of 100,000 Euros for flashing the sponsored waistband of his underpants while celebrating a goal against Portugal during Euro2012.

European football's governing body said that its Control and Disciplinary Body had decided to imposed the fine and suspend the AFC Sunderland player for "one competitive fixture" after the celebration during last Wednesday's match against Portugal in Lyiv following disciplinary proceedings against the player for "improper conduct (Law 4 of the Laws of the Game)".

Law 4, which covers "The players' equipment" states: "Players must not reveal undershirts which contain slogans or advertising. A player removing his jersey to reveal slogans will be sanctioned by the competition organiser."

Article 18.18 of the "Regulations of the UEFA European Football Championship 2010-12" also states: "All kit items worn during the final tournament must be free of any sponsor advertising."

The waistband of Bendtner's green and white underwear had the name of a Dublin-based online betting firm. The company, Paddy Power, said on its website that they were "lucky pants".

"This suspension applies to the next 2014 FIFA World Cup match, including the qualifying competition, for which Bendtner is eligible," a statement said on the UEFA website.

VIDEO: Joachim Löw & the Ball Boy

This video and photos of it have gone around the world as Germany coach Joachim Löw pokes the ball out of the control of a ball boy, who is standing pitch side at the Netherlands vs Germany match.

The footage was shown during the match in the 22nd minute, but it was actually recorded before the match during warm-up of the teams and there has been hefty criticism in Germany why such footage is included during a high tension match with so much at stake and creating a wrong impression of Löw, who might be seen to take his job seriously.

VIDEO: adidas EURO2012 match ball - Tango 12

Inspired by tradition, made for today's game. Based on the classic Tango design used during both the FIFA World Cup™ and UEFA EURO™ tournaments during the early 1980s, the adidas Tango 12 features a modern interpretation of the design including a coloured outline inspired by the flags of the two host nations -- Poland and Ukraine. Etched into the Tango design are three bespoke graphics which celebrate the decorative art of paper cutting, a tradition in the rural areas of both host countries and link to the key characteristics of football - unity, rivalry and passion.

Complementing the design, the adidas Tango 12 features a series of triangular panels that are thermally bonded together to ensure a true, stable flight path. Covering each panel of the ball is a grip texture which supports boot to ball contact and enhances ball control. Beneath the outer surface of the ball lies a woven carcass and a new bladder for increased air retention and reduced water uptake.

The adidas Tango 12 will be used on field during EURO2012 which kicks off tomorrow when tournament hosts Poland take to the field against Greece at The National Stadium, Warsaw. All competing federations have received an allocation of thirty Official Match Balls during the week commencing December 5, six months ahead of the tournament, for training and competitive use.

VIDEO: Official UEFA EURO 2012 song

It is now usual for football tournaments to have an official song. "Endless Summer" from Oceana is the official Song for the UEFA EURO 2012 in Poland and the Ukraine. A nice tune, which hopefully will bring a good summer feeling over the duration of the tournament.

Germany not to bid to host Euro2020

The German Football Association (DFB) has decided against bidding to host the 2020 European Championships. The reason behind the decision was that the DFB thinks that other countries should have the right to host the continental football championship after the nation successfully hosted the 2006 FIFA World Cup and 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup.

"The thought of having the best teams from across the continent and their fans in Germany is of course very attractive. But after we have hosted the World Cups in 2006 and 2011, it is the good right of other countries to take on the role of hosts," DFB president Wolfgang Niersbach explained the decision by the federation.

So far only Turkey has formally bid to host Euro2020 with the application phase for national football associations set to end on May 15. And with Germany pulling out this does increase Turkey's chances of hosting the tournament for which the nations has bid thrice unsuccessfully in the past.

But surely Germany could be a candidate to host the European Championship in 2024 or 2028 if the DFB thinks it suits its plans.

UEFA Europa League: Quarterfinal draw out

The draw for the Quarterfinals for the 2011/12 UEFA Europa League was carried out earlier today in Nyon, Switzerland. And there are some mouth watering clashes coming.

There are some interesting match-ups in the quarterfinals with two Spanish-German clashes - Schalke 04 vs Athletic Bilbao and Atletico Madrid vs Hannover 96, while the third Spanish team left in the competition will face another Dutch side in AZ Alkmaar after having beaten PSV Eindhoven in the last round. The fourth encounter will see Portuguese side Sporting Lisboa take on Metalist Kharkiv from the Ukraine.

The quarterfinal matches will be played on March 29 and April 5, while the semifinal games are scheduled to take place on April 19 and 26 with the final on May 9 in Bucharest, Romania.


The Fixtures

Quarterfinals
AZ Alkmaar - FC Valencia
FC Schalke 04 - Athletic Bilbao
Sporting Lisboa - Metalist Kharkiv
Atletico Madrid - Hannover 96

Semifinals
Atletico Madrid/Hannover 96 - AZ Alkmaar/FC Valencia
Sporting Lisboa/Metalist Kharkiv - FC Schalke 04/Athletic Bilbao

2011/12 UEFA Champions League: Quarterfinal draw out

The draw for the 2011/12 UEFA Champions League quarterfinals was held today in Nyon, Switzerland. And all the remaining clubs in the competition aim to reach the final to be played on May 19, 2012 at the Allianz Arena in Munich. In the draw were eight clubs from seven nations from across the continent for Europe's premier club competition.

The first leg would be played on March 27/28, while the return leg would be played on April 3/4. The highlight will be the AC Milan vs FC Barcelona matches, who face each other again after having played against each other in the group stage. Barca's Spanish rivals Real Madrid have the easiest tie on paper as they first travel to Cypriot side APOEL Nicosia. Meanwhile FC Bayern Munich face Olympique Marseille and FC Chelsea take on Benfica Lisboa in ties which the two first named sides would be the favourites.

The semifinals will be played on April 17/18 and 24/25 with the winner of APOEL Nicosia/Real Madrid taking on Olympique Marseille/FC Bayern Munich and the second semifinal would be between FC Chelsea/Benfica Lisboa and AC Milan/FC Barcelona.


The Fixtures

The Quarterfinal Fixtures
APOEL Nicosia - Real Madrid CF
Olympique de Marseille - FC Bayern Munich
FC Chelsea - SL Benfica Lisboa
AC Milan - FC Barcelona

Potential Semifinals
APOEL Nicosia/Real Madrid - Olympique Marseille/FC Bayern Munich
FC Chelsea/Benfica Lisboa - AC Milan/FC Barcelona

2011/12 UEFA Europa League: Round of 32/16 draw out

The draw for the Round of 32 and pre-quarterfinals (Round of 16) for the 2011/12 UEFA Europa League was carried out yesterday in Nyon, Switzerland. And there are some mouth watering clashes coming early next year.

Defending champions FC Porto take on English Premier League leaders Manchester City, while their city rivals Manchester United face Ajax Amsterdam. The other English entrant left Stoke City have to take on the mighty FC Valencia, while Lazio Roma have been paired with Atletico Madrid. In a low country derby AZ Alkmaar take on Belgian giants RSC Anderlecht.

The Round of 32 matches will be played on February 16 and 23, while the Round of 16 games are scheduled to take place on March 8 and 15.


The Fixtures

Round of 32
FC Porto - Manchester City
AFC Ajax Amsterdam - Manchester United
FC Lokomotiv Moscow - Athletic Bilbao
RedBulls Salzburg - Metalist Kharkiv
Stoke City - FC Valencia
Rubin Kasan - Olympiacos Piräus
AZ Alkmaar - RSC Anderlecht
SS Lazio Roma - Atletico Madrid
Steaua Bucharest - FC Twente Enschede
Viktoria Plzen - FC Schalke 04
Wisla Krakau - Standard Liege
Sporting Braga - Besiktas Istanbul
Udinese Calcio - PAOK Saloniki
Trabzonspor AS - PSV Eindhoven
Hannover 96 - FC Brugge
Legia Warsaw - Sporting Lisboa

Round of 16
Salzburg/Metalist - Rubin/Olympiacos
Legia/Sporting - Porto/Manchester City
Steaua/Twente - Plzen/Schalke
Wisla/Standard - Hannover/Club Brugge
Stoke/Valencia - Trabzonspor/PSV
AZ/Anderlecht - Udinese/PAOK
Lazio/Atlético - Braga/Besiktas
Ajax/Manchester United - Lokomotiv/Athletic

2011/12 UEFA Champions League: Round of 16 draw out

The draw for the 2011/12 UEFA Champions League Round of 16 was held today in Nyon, Switzerland. And all the remaining clubs in the competition aim to reach the final to be played on May 19, 2012 at the Allianz Arena in Munich. In the draw were 16 clubs from across the continent for Europe's premier club competition.

The first leg would be played on February 14/15 and 21/22, while the return leg would be played on March 6/7 and 13/14. The winners of the group stage first travel away and then host their opponents at home. Once more we have some very interesting fixtures to look forward to with the pick of the matches being the Italy vs London matches - AC Milan vs Arsenal and Napoli vs Chelsea.

Defending champions FC Barcelona have to travel to Bayer 04 Leverkusen in an interesting tie-up. Barca are big favourites to go throughh, but interestingly Leverkusen had beaten Barca on both occasions when they reached European Cup finals - UEFA Cup in 1988 and UEFA Champions League in 2002.

2010 champions Inter Milan face French side Olympique Marseille, record champions Real Madrid have to travel across the continent to face CSKA Moscow in Russia, while Bayern Munich face Manchester United beaters FC Basel.


The PQF Fixtures

Olympique Lyonnais - APOEL Nicosia
SSC Napoli - FC Chelsea
AC Milan - FC Arsenal
FC Basel - FC Bayern Munich
Bayer 04 Leverkusen - FC Barcelona
ZSKA Moscow - Real Madrid
Zenit St. Petersburg - Benfica Lisboa
Olympique Marseille - Inter Milan

UEFA Champions League: Tops & Flops

The Group Stage of the 2011/12 UEFA Champions League ended last night with numerous surprises after all the 32 participating sides have finally played their six group league matches. 16 team move into the pre-quarterfinals, eight into the UEFA Europa League while the rest are eliminated.

We look back at the tops and flops...

Tops

The biggest positive surprise is the qualification of Cypriot minnows APOEL Nicosia for the pre-quarterfinals. APEOL not only qualified from their Group G, but also topped the group ahead more famed sides Zenit St. Petersburg, FC Porto and Shakhtar Donetsk.

Spanish giants Real Madrid were the only side to finish with an all win record, the first team to do so in six seasons.

Flops

The biggest upset was the elimination of English giants Manchester United from Group C with Benfica Lisboa topping the group and Swiss champions FC Basel finishing second due to a final day 2-1 win against United last night. For United it meant their first exit at this stage in years with the club having played in three of the last four UCL finals.

Also out are United's city rivals Manchester City, who didn't survive the group of death. Bayern Munich and SSC Napoli went through from Group A at the expense of City with another negative being Spanish side FC Villarreal. The 'Yellow Submarines' lost all their six group matches being no factor at all.

Two more sides in Romanians Otelul Galati and Dynamo Zagreb from Croatia also ended the group stage with six losses. Especially for Zagreb the last couple of matches were tough. First a 2-6 defeat to Real Madrid and then a 1-7 loss at home to Olympique Lyonnais.

Should Europe's Top Leagues be reduced to 16 Teams?

This is a thesis which FC Barcelona president Sandro Rosell is advocating for not only for the Spanish La Liga, but also for the English Premier League, Italy's Serie A and the French Ligue 1 who all have 20 team leagues along with other European top leagues like Germany's Bundesliga.

The approach from Sandro Rosell is interesting because of the reasons behind his thinking. Rosell is saying that his idea is in the interest of the players by having to play less national league matches; but also this would give a chance to the UEFA Champions League, Europe's continental club competition, to spread out and maybe even have matches on weekends to make it more marketable.

Only last week Sandro Rosell had said at the International Football Arena in Zurich that Spain's La Liga should be reduced from 20 to 18 and then 16 teams. It had created a stir in Spain with many questioning the Barca president's approach.

But with ideas of a European Super League always in the back of the mind and top clubs also looking at ways to increase their revenues, matches of the Champions League on Saturday's and Sunday's could just be the answer.

For an FC Barcelona to play Manchester United or AC Milan is more lucrative then some small Spanish league sides. Will European football discuss Rosell's idea? Will smaller European leagues help players and their clubs? What do you all think?

Is UEFA right to ban Rooney for three matches?

European football governing body UEFA has banned English striker Wayne Rooney for three competitive matches after kicking Montenegro's Miodrag Dzudovic in a 2-2 draw in a Euro2012 qualifier in Podgorica on Friday a week ago.

This means that Wayne Rooney would miss all three of England's group stage matches at next years 2012 European Championships in Poland and the Ukraine. England coach Fabio Capello now has to consider what to do, if to take Rooney along and gamble that England will get through the group stages or another striker whom he could utilise if the need be during the group stage.

Not surprisingly the reactions from England and around Europe have been different. While in England many have questioned the decision, in Europe the issue often not a tpic at all and many after seeing the foul say it is a correct decision by UEFA and the English should blame Rooney for what he did.

Interestingly in the English Premier League the punishment for violent conduct is an automatic three-match ban. At UEFA a panel reviews such an incident and then takes a decision about suspensions.

For the Three Lions and their fans this is a disaster as it does weaken the team at Euro2012.

UEFA renew rights deal with Ten Sports

Ten Sports and UEFA have renewed their contract for the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League from 2012 to 2015. This means that Ten Sports and its sister channel Ten Action+ will broadcast matches live, deferred and as capsules of Europe's premier club competitions.

European football governing body UEFA said in a statement, "The media rights sales process is successfully continuing in Asia, reflecting the growing interest for UEFA's club football competitions in the region. UEFA is happy to announce these deals as they will enable football fans throughout the respective territories to enjoy increased levels of match choice and coverage of both the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League."

UEFA not only sold the rights for south Asia, but also in Malaysia, Brunei and Myanmar to ensure continued coverage of its flagship club competitions. Ten Sports channel competitors ESPN-Star Sports and Neo Sports had also bid for the rights, which have become very lucrative in India though match kick-off timings in Europe are often well past midnight.

Ten Sports channels (Ten Sports & Zee Sports in the past, now Ten Sports & Ten Action+) have been airing the top club football from UEFA for a couple of years and showcase more than 55 UEFA Champions League and 60 Europa League matches from September to May every year. Ten Sports offers the most comprehensive coverage of the UEFA Champions League & UEFA Europa League in India, with a choice of live matches and a full round up of all the match day action throughout the week.

The rights are not only for television but across all broadcast platforms and besides India Ten Sports channels will be showing the matches across south Asia in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

Ten Sports bag I-League rights, TenAction+ to show matches

The All India Football Federation and their marketing partners IMG-Reliance have signed a deal for the 2011/12 season of the I-League with Ten Sports for coverage on their Ten Action+ channel. This new deal ensures national coverage after the AIFF/IMG-Reliance had signed a deal for regional coverage in West Bengal and Assam.

As per the contract Ten Action+ will be broadcasting 75 of the 182 matches from the upcoming I-League live with the federation, their marketing partners and tv rights holders looking to show matches over weekends and at suitable times for the viewers.

A release from IMG-Reliance said, "We are happy to confirm Ten Sports as the national broadcaster for the 2011-12 season of I-League as part of our ongoing efforts to develop the following of the sport in India. We are committed to pursuing various initiatives as part of our strategic plan to enhance the level of competition as also harness the domestic football talent in the country. Ten Sports shares our vision for the sport in India and we are delighted to partner with them in bringing football into the homes of fans across the nation."

Ten Action+, formerly Zee Sports, is India's only football centric channel in the stable of Ten Sports which is owner by the Zee Group. This marks an interesting return of the I-League rights to the Zee Group, who had bought the combined marketing and television rights from the AIFF in 2005, but with coverage and marketing not up to the necessary standard the contract had been cancelled in 2010 with IMG-Reliance taking over from them.

Ten Sports CEO Atul Pande said, "We are delighted to be associated with IMG Reliance, to telecast the I-League, India’s premier’s football tournament. We are committed to bringing the best sports action to our viewers, and this new agreement with the IMG Reliance reaffirms our commitment to grow the sports business and consolidate our position as the leading sports broadcaster. Zee and Ten have been supporters of Indian football for many years and we continue committed to our vision of enhancing and adding value to the sport."

AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das added, "Ten Action+ is a niche football channel and I am sure the visibility and on air promotional activities of the channel will go a long way in enhancing the profile of the I-League. Our partners IMG Reliance deserve all credit for forging this significant partnership."

Earlier a regional broadcast partner in Brand Value Communications Limited, the owners of channels News Time Bangla and News Time Assam, had been announced. Here the write-up about it: I-League: Regional Broadcast partner announced .

Villas-Boas: Don't allow 3rd place UCL teams to play Europa League

The new FC Chelsea manager André Villas-Boas has made an interesting observation and brought-up a controversial idea on the issue of teams finishing third in the UEFA Champions League group stage and from there moving on into the knockout stages of the UEFA Europa League.

"The teams dropping from Champions League to the Europa League shouldn't be the teams that qualify third in the group," said Villas-Boas.

And Villas-Boas had an idea on what to rather consider by saying, "It should be the teams that go on to the last 16 of the Champions League. Because it looks like you are promoting the unsuccessful teams in the group phase."

The UEFA Champions League is the biggest club football competition in the world, it features the biggest clubs in world football and sometimes they do get eliminated early in the tournament not able to reach the quarterfinals, semifinals or final.

The Europa League meanwhile is set to enter its third season with the competition still to build on its reputation though UEFA say it has already build a better brand value then the old UEFA Cup. But if instead of the third place finishers of the Champions League group stage, you rather get the eight losers from the pre-quarterfinals (Round of 16) into the competition then its value surely would go further as some of the biggest names in Europe could feature from then on in the Europa League.

Surely an idea which UEFA should look into and maybe consider...