UEFA have pledged to take action to bridge the financial gulf in the Champions League.
Speaking at their Congress in Geneva today UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin claimed that EEC rules were holding back their plans for stronger Financial Fair Play.
Last week there were a number of very one sided matches with former winners Celtic and Feyenoord suffering heavy defeats at home.
Changes to come in next season look like strengthening clubs from the four leading nations, Spain, Germany, Italy and England with each of them getting four group places.
While the Champions route will stay in place for countries such as Scotland the new development seems likely to concentrate wealth into the clubs from the highest ranked nations.
Responding to concerns about the growing gap the UEFA website reported Ceferin saying: “We are open to any and all reforms that would serve the good of the game.
“We are imaginative and committed, and we are just waiting for the green light from those who publically criticise the current situation, but have yet to enable us to put it right.
“I am confident that things will soon change. The momentum is there…it is up to us to seize it and I assure you I have every intention of doing so. Because creating the perfect balance was not just a slogan during my campaign; it’s still mine, and it’s still your goal.”
When UEFA disclose the new qualification routes for the Champions League it will be easier to find out if there is any substance to Ceferin’s comments.
Among the measures suggested to reign in spending it has been suggested that UEFA may use salary caps, luxury tax, squad limits, the evolution of financial fair play, reforms of the transfer system, the creation of a clearing house to control money flows and restrictions on the commissions paid to players’ agents.