Symmetry wrote:It's an idea that's been floating around for a long time. There are major problems with it though. I guess the big one is that supporters aren't interested. Uefa cup and the Champions League pull supporters in because they're interested, and it's a special occasion.
Plus Celtic isn't a great team.
Thing is, Europa League barely pulls supporters in as well. Platini is talking of merging the competitions, which would just be unexciting and water down the Champions League, which right now has the perfect mix of top quality sides lesser known champions. I'd rather see no nation have more than 3 teams in the competition, but anyway.
I think regional leagues would provide for a good replacement for the Europa League. The biggest clubs don't really care for Europa League (they prioritize winning their domestic league over it for sure), and they wouldn't have to participate in regional leagues which lightens the fixture load for them.
The major clubs from smaller leagues get access to larger TV money this way, which allows them to keep up with the other major leagues. I'm willing to bet that a league with some of the teams mentioned here (Celtic, Rangers, Ajax, PSV, Feyenord, Porto, Sporting, Benfica, Anderlecht, Bruges, Standard Liege) and teams in similar situations could attract significantly higher TV revenue than any of the current national leagues they play in. I think the fans would initially not like the idea, but as they see the on-the-field product improve they would come around to it. You don't really get that consistent quality opposition with Europa League. One week you'll be playing Liverpool and the next Young Boys or Nefchi Baku.
Similarly a Balkan League (including Turkish/Cyprus teams as well) would bring the best out of the teams there, since all those leagues are very, very top heavy. If any place, it would work there.