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Berlin (dpa) - Rudi Völler has spoken out against a key point of the planned reform of the Champions League.
Should individual clubs be in the premier class without direct athletic qualification through the national competition of the preseason, this would be "an unbelievable injustice," said the sports director of Bundesliga soccer club Bayer Leverkusen in the ZDF "sports studio".
The German Football Association and its Vice President Rainer Koch, who is a member of the relevant executive committee of the European Football Union UEFA, should “set an example”, stressed Völler.
"The worst that can happen to football is if there is no athletic qualification beyond the national competition and the performance principle is undermined."
This would also "not accept their own fans".
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UEFA recently announced that, contrary to previous plans, it would not decide on the proposed reform of the European Cup until April 19.
Among other things, it is about the format in which the Champions League will be played from 2024.
The proposal is on the table that 36 teams should take part instead of the previous 32.
The game should then no longer be played in eight preliminary round groups but in just one league, in which not everyone competes against everyone.
The number of games per season would increase significantly.
The European Club Association ECA is in favor of two teams without direct qualification being given a starting place on the basis of historical results alone - this bothers Völler.
“Personally, I think the current mode is my favorite.
I would have hoped it would stay that way, ”said the 60-year-old.
It is clear, however, that one has to make one or the other compromise.
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© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210404-99-79229 / 2
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