The ‘Copenhagen Access Model’ is the latest attempt to reform the Champions League but despite some sound principles it faces an uphill battle to be accepted by UEFA.
At present the European Club Association and the European Leagues are both working on plans to take the game forward but from very different perspectives.
With Juventus chief Andrea Agnelli leading the ECA the interests of the big clubs from the richest nations are the priority with their last proposal being to secure 24 automatic Champions League places going to teams based on their performance in the previous seasons’ competition.
The European Leagues want to see a greater priority given to national leagues- giving the champions of countries such as Scotland, Denmark, Holland etc a greater chance of access without demanding direct access.
7. Here’s how this year’s qualifying might have looked based on the new format, using the 10 year coefficient.
I’ve made assumptions here that bonus pts given in the 10 year coefficient won’t apply. And that there will only be one qualifying route instead of two. pic.twitter.com/yOUxkz9NK2
— Moravcik67 (@Moravcik67_) February 26, 2020
UEFA expert Moravcik 67 has gone through the Copenhagen Access Plan which seems fair and favourable for clubs such as Celtic- but unlikely to succeed.
Access from 2024/25 tournament has still to be decided which impacts on negotiating broadcast deals.
It’s December 2017 since Celtic Park last hosted a Champions League tie- with the ECA and European Leagues at odds over the future of the competition it looks like the Scottish champions will continue to face a long qualification process to reach the stage handed to Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen this season.