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    Report: UEFA Plan to Beat 'Super League' Involves Weekend UCL Fixtures

    Gianni Verschueren@ReverschPassFeatured ColumnistNovember 11, 2018

    logo UEFA during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2019 play off final first leg match between The Netherlands and Switzerland at the Galgenwaard stadium on November 09, 2018 in Utrecht, The Netherlands(Photo by VI Images via Getty Images)
    VI-Images/Getty Images

    UEFA's plan to beat a potential Super League of top clubs reportedly involves moving Champions League matches to a weekend slot, but La Liga, the Premier League, the Bundesliga and Serie A have all signed an agreement blocking the move.

    According to AS' Joaquin Maroto, the Tuesday and Wednesday slots currently used for the Champions League fixtures would be turned over to international football under the plan.

    Plans for a Super League have been floating around for some time, but a recent Football Leaks report revealed it may be closer than originally thought, with elite clubs supposedly working on such a league in secret:

    SPIEGEL ONLINE English @SPIEGEL_English

    A coalition that includes FC Bayern Munich spent months working on plans to create a private league of elite teams behind the backs of associations and other teams. #footballleaks #dirtydeals https://t.co/cXf1wXgqMP

    That report has prompted a strong response. According to Maroto, FIFA President Gianni Infantino―himself a target of the latest round of Football Leaks―has already hinted at banning players who take part in the Super League from the World Cup and other FIFA tournaments.

    The BT Sport panel discussed the plans and were no fans:

    Football on BT Sport @btsportfootball

    No relegation ❌ No derbies ❌ No history ❌ No thanks! 🙅‍♂️ The #PLTonight team DO NOT want to see a European Super League introduced... https://t.co/NsVaq2c8io

    Report: UEFA Plan to Beat 'Super League' Involves Weekend UCL Fixtures
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    UEFA's proposed response would break with tradition and greatly complicate the football calendar, as the weekend slots are currently reserved for domestic club football. La Liga in particular spreads out its matches as much as possible, with fixtures taking place on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

    Incorporating Champions League fixtures into that schedule would be difficult, and the leagues' opposition to the plan is understandable.

    Per Maroto, UEFA's other federations have requested the organisation drop the automatic Champions League spots currently awarded to the four top leagues. Each can send four teams into the competition without any play-off matches.

    The threat of a Super League will hurt that request, as UEFA are likely to do what they can to keep the elite clubs from the top leagues in the fold.