UEFA Europa League – a pointless name change?
As of next season, the European competition fought for by the elite of the continent’s mid-table teams will no longer be known as the Uefa Cup. Instead the competition will be rebranded as the Uefa Europa League. Why? Who knows. The old saying goes that you cannot polish a turd, so surely the same applies to a crap piece of silverware.
The name change was first bandied around in July and has today been officially approved by the UEFA Executive Committee at their meeting in Bordeaux. Only the stupid and/or naive will consider the Europa League any more prestigious than the Uefa Cup. The competitors will still be Europe’s second string – anyone who is anyone will be in the Champions League proper.
The official line is that rebranding the tournament along similar lines as the Champions League will make it more popular. Wrong – the Uefa Cup already has a group stage and a similar format to the Champions League. Giving the tournament a name that sounds like a hotel is not going to change anything. The old Conference was of course rebranded as the Blue Square Premier League. Has any of that top-flight prestige rubbed off? I’m not sure; you will have to ask fans of Lewis or Northwich Victoria.
The biggest change which might have an impact on clubs is that television deals will be dealt out centrally by Uefa (I’m presuming they have not rebranded as the Europa League Organising Team). Currently clubs negotiate their own deals up to the semi-final stage and hence every now and again your team’s away tie in Transylvania is not on the box at all.
The competition’s group stage will also be expanded to 48 teams, but so what? The prestige will remain with the Champions League where the genuinely elite clubs battle it out. Letting two Estonian teams instead of one sneak into the group stage is not going to make the Uefa Cup a reformed character.
Uefa president Michel Platini said: “I am convinced the new format will give the UEFA Europa League a successful new impetus.” I’m not so confident. It sounds like money for old Europa.
Topics: Europa League
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Currently clubs negotiate their own deals up to the semi-final stage and hence every now and again your team’s away tie in Transylvania is not on the box at all.
which means teams can choose where they want to play their games? correct me if i am wrong.
ooh, i also heard that the 3rd placed teams in England, Spain and Italy qualify straight to the group stages in the UCL.
September 26th, 2008 @ 14:06Totally pointless name change – like the expansion of the European Championships to 24 teams – more football does not equate more quality
September 26th, 2008 @ 17:36what a pointless change they should also draft one girls under 5 team from every country in and have goalkeepers drink one pint of milk a day before a match while there at it. Is platini just trying to save his ass here because hes realised how thick his decisions have been i mean disrespecting wenger and fuergeson in the same season and 2 of the biggest clubs in england is not a smart move since these 2 – despite how badly they are hated are even more respected.
September 26th, 2008 @ 17:43and more on point isnt Europa what all other countries excluding england use/say in Europe. Who knows maybe the uefa cup sounded to english for him….
The only thing (other than television revenue and money from the purse) that can ensure that this competition has a fraction of the prestige of its cousin is to ensure the winner a spot in FIFA’s World Club Championship. Otherwise, this name change doesn’t do anything in terms of making it somewhat equal to the UEFA Champions League in terms of worldwide interest (and thus worldwide revenue). It will still be a competition battled out by numerous clubs that no one has any particular interest in (other than their loyal supporters).
September 26th, 2008 @ 22:15ONE THING ABOUT THE EUROPA LEAGUE WOULD BE THAT THE TV RIGHTS WOULD BE SOLD CENTRALLY…
Actually thats the thing which will help it. people in countries like india dont get to watch uefa cup group matches ( most of the times). so it would be great if they sell the rights to espn star (but not ten sports), it would be real great to follow spurs and espanyol and ac milan (this year). But the Europa league, they should show it on TV in other countries, the same way the show champions league.
September 27th, 2008 @ 19:04the main problem with the uefa cup/Europa League is that many of the sides participating dont actually care about it. A simple solution would be to give the winner a place in the following seasons champions league. Otherwise it remains pointless.
May 18th, 2009 @ 16:17The only thing I have to say is that clubs that finish 3rd on champions league should not get a place on the new Europa League!
Why should they get a second chance?
A more competitive league and would be more like the champions league format with 5 teams instead of 4 in the group stage.
I believe this is the only way to make this competition have the respect it deserves.
Besides why should teams that finish 3rd in some leagues get a place in the champions league? They are champions of what?
May 31st, 2009 @ 23:48