The president of Europe’s football leagues’ association is urging UEFA to reject a plan to reshape the Champions League to create a "super league." 

Lars-Christer Olsson said UEFA should instead be looking to improve "competitive balance."

Olsson described proposals presented by UEFA and the European Club Association this month as a “closed league”, designed to give 24 top clubs permanent participation in an expanded, lucrative Champions League.

Eight clubs would be relegated at the end of the season from the Champions League into the Europa, although domestic champions could redeem themselves through the qualifying process.

“This is not even a new proposal – it is very similar to the proposals made by the old G14 [top] clubs 20 years ago, for a breakaway super league,” said Olsson, who was involved in senior Uefa administration from 1992 and the organisation’s chief executive from 2004-07. “But this is more dangerous because it is proposed under the auspices of Uefa, the governing body of European football.

“There has been huge opposition from our member leagues and clubs across Europe, from supporters and increasingly now from national associations, telling Uefa that this closed shop is a proposal for the richest clubs to get even wealthier. This is an attempt to form a super league, absolutely.”