Football
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ECA announce review of Champions League with possible changes to come

Europe's leading clubs have played down the prospect of a breakaway from the Champions League but say changes to the competition may be needed to make it more attractive.

The European Clubs' Association (ECA) has announced a review of the Champions League and Europa League with the results due around the end of the year. It has also demanded a seat at the table before any decision by FIFA to expand the World Cup from 32 to 40 teams is taken.

ECA chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said: "I believe both ECA and UEFA are interested in an evolution of the competitions. Stagnation means regression. We have always jointly looked into ways to further develop and improve the competitions. It is important to find a good and balanced solution for everyone involved."

The ECA's senior vice-chairman Umberto Gandini also told a news conference in Paris: "We are starting a review process of the Champions League and working with UEFA to see which improvements we can bring in to have the most attractive football product every year.

"The process will last six to nine months maximum but it is clear we have to take into account all the measures to make it more and more attractive.

"There is not any kind of understanding that we have to change the Champions League. We will listen to the main actors of the competition and UEFA itself and find out what is best. It may be just a slight change to the access list, it may be many aspects of the competition that can be reviewed and adjusted."

The ECA also announced that UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino has their support in his bid for the FIFA presidency.

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