Champions League

Its that time of year and teams are preparing for qualification for this years Champions League. Of course the regulars are there, Man Utd, Barcelona and Inter Milan, they all make it as Champions, but inside the qualifying rounds there are a few Champions. We all know the Champions League is about the best teams in Europe, we all know we want to watch the best players and that the best club team win's.

But it is the Champions League, therefore is it not only right that all the champions from every league, whether its the money flying English Premier League or the part time amateurs from Denmark or Ireland. Every champion from every competing nation should take part without qualifying.

Qualification is UEFA's way of letting the minnows take part but ultimately rejecting their presence. For these competing nations, there football will never develope as they will not be allowed to play at the top of the soccer pyramid. Liverpool, have not won a domestic league in 20 years yet they find there way into the champions league, admittedly by means of qualification, that’s qualification against league champions of other nations.

Yes we want the best footballers and so on, but do we want a team without a domestic crown in 20 years to be champions of Europe. The minnows don't get the chance to reach the high money earning stages of the champions league, thus the money makes the rich richer.

Many years ago, the number of teams allowed to qualify for the Euro Cup and World cup was increased. Nations like Liechtenstein, San Marino, Slovakia and Slovenia appeared. They were whipping boys, and indeed some still are today. But what about nights when, San Marino score first against England, and I’m sure if you check, they may still be whipping boys but the goals conceded are less and their fighting for more draws, you probably also find their domestic league has improved and number of players get recognised to play elsewhere has increased. This all amounts to developing the game it each individual nation. Of course if you take Slovenia, they reached the 2002 World Cup and impressed.

If we take the same rule, and allow the champions from minor leagues compete in the Champions League without the need to qualify, then maybe their soccer will improve. Firstly thy will receive money to allow for development, secondly they gain valuable experience competing against the best. It maybe that they are whipping boys, but occasional one team will achieve great victories and over time they may progress to the next stages. Fans have right to sit in pubs and remember nights they held Milan to a draw in 5,000 sitter stadium, they have the right to talk for years about such a game. But above all its fair, you have champions in the so called Champions League.

I know what your all thinking, the money the minor teams earn will only develope that particular club and not the domestic league, but we could over come that. A percentage of there winning goes to league development, shared amongst the other clubs. Therefore no one club will advance into domination of the league. Equally so, it is always the big clubs that dominate there leagues, Man Utd, Aresnal, Chelsea and Liverpool dominate the English League, Utd especially, why, most likely helped with money generated in the champions league.

The fact is UFEA want the best to make money, they want to riddle out the minnows and have a league of great clubs, rich clubs, clubs that sell and not necessarily champions. They have created an unequal unfair competition to generate and develope their own ideas of football. Why, what are UFEA so scared off, its unlikely that Shamrock Rovers will ever win the Champions League, but they may over time become tough opposition. Eventual after the group stages the minnows will have been riddle out, so UEFA will still get their best teams in, but the minnows as champions of their own nation have a right to compete at the group stages. Lets remember its a League of Champions, not the League of rich Champions and selected best money making runners up.

Aren’t UFEA suppose to have FAIR PLAY.