Europe’s supreme football governing body is considering a change in its own organized annual leagues, especially in Europa League. Accordingly, as per the latest updates, UEFA is planning to demolish Europa League altogether along with expending the number of teams participate in Champions League from 32 to 64. It is like vanishing one league at the cost of another. Actually, the format and rank of Europa League has always been criticized by football fraternity, perhaps, top soccer clubs do not even want to send their first rated teams to this league, and if such a merger takes place, there’ll be approximately 64 clubs who would participate in new Champions League’s format. The final decision is expected to be taken by UEFA in 2014, though it looks certain now, coz UEFA president Michel Platini has already said it in an interview given to a French newspaper Ouest-France where he said, “There is an ongoing debate to determine what form the European competitions will take between 2015 and 2018. We talk, and we will make a decision in 2014. There is nothing decided yet.”
There is another section in the soccer world which is against of such a merger, or perhaps a takeover. They said; it is a stupid idea to shrink one format to give space to another, perhaps it would be a better alternative if someone would have taken an initiative to improve an ailing league. Another idea on the table is to enable Europa League’s finalists to qualify for Champions League; hence former will be treated like a qualifier for the Champions League, which is still not being admired by many. Notably, many top soccer officials are in support of such a merger citing this would give them more space to compete with best European clubs. However, Platini added, “It’s a question that is regularly brought up. I can’t see how it could work outside the Uefa framework. Who will referee them? In what stadiums will they play?”
As far goal line technology is concerned, Platini clearly ruled out of its use citing the cost it would require. He said, referees cost only 2.3 million euros while installation of goal line technology across all 78 stadiums will cost a mammoth 32 million euros in its first year itself, and another 54 million euros in next five years. So, according to him, it’s more economical and straight forward to use referees, for the time being.