European football is facing a critical question: does it need more balance? The sport's elite are struggling to maintain their dominance, while smaller clubs are finding it increasingly difficult to compete. 'We really messed up', says Alex Muzio, president of the Union of European Clubs (UEC), referring to the current state of affairs. But here's where it gets controversial: is this a problem that can be solved, or is it an inevitable consequence of the sport's growth and success?
The Champions League, a prestigious competition that began in 1992, has seen a significant increase in its value and size. UEFA's TV rights have grown from just under £500m in 2003-04 to £2.8bn in 2023-24, with the new cycle from 2027 expected to generate more than £4bn. However, the pool of winners has narrowed, with only Bayern Munich and Paris St-Germain breaking the English and Spanish clubs' hold on the trophy in the past 15 years. An Italian team last won it in 2010.
This disparity is evident in the top leagues. France, despite boasting a deep talent pool, will only have one representative in the Champions League last 16 after PSG drew Monaco in the play-offs. Meanwhile, the Premier League, cricket's IPL, and American football's NFL are examples of competitions with more parity, which fans crave.
The UEC, which represents more than 140 clubs, has proposed solutions to address this issue. One idea is a new domestic media rights protection policy that would reinvest a portion of European competition media revenues into nations where it exceeds domestic rights. Another is a player development reward policy that reimburses clubs who are not in the Champions League when a player they trained features in the competition.
However, Muzio acknowledges that there is no clear and easy solution. He warns that if you help a club like Qarabag or USG grow its revenue, it could stretch away the teams behind it in the league. Therefore, the UEC believes that a lot of work over a long period of time is needed to try and balance things out and make things fair again.
The question remains: can European football find a way to maintain its success while also promoting more balance? The answer may lie in the willingness of the sport's stakeholders to work together and find a solution that benefits everyone.
