German clubs oppose plans for more elitist Champions League

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Soccer clubs in Germany’s top two divisions oppose a proposal to close off the Champions League in 2024 in favor of elite teams.

The Bundesliga says all 36 members voted to reject the European Club Association’s reform plan.

Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are among 13 German members of the ECA, which is urging UEFA toward radical Champions League changes.

The ECA wants 24 of 32 Champions League entries to be retained in expanded eight-team groups instead of performance in domestic leagues.

Bundesliga CEO Christian Seifert says Champions League changes “must not jeopardize the relevance and future” of European national leagues.

Seifert says the ECA’s plan “would sustainably damage the whole of European football — and that can never be in the interest of the UEFA.”