I’m writing aboard a plane to Berlin en route to Leipzig for the Uefa Conference League Final. By the time you read this you’ll know whether my Thursday return trip hangover is fuelled by elation or despair. Whether Crystal Palace or Rayo Vallecano triumphed in the Red Bull Arena on Wednesday night, it’s right to call out the absurdity of Uefa’s European club competition format.
The pseudo-league ‘Swiss system’ was introduced to the Champions, Europa and Conference Leagues last season. It was designed to increase the number of supposedly meaningful matches between Europe’s biggest teams in the early stages of the competitions. Instead, Uefa has baffled fans and removed the joy of reverse fixtures between teams – fixtures which previously encouraged familiarisation with opponents who might otherwise just be pins on maps.
In leagues of 36, each team plays eight opponents in the top two competitions; six in the Conference League. The top 24 make it to the knockout rounds
Yes, the Swiss system ensures Europe’s top names must scrap for points against some of each other before Christmas, but that only really applies in the Champions League where these sides congregate. The vast majority of matches there, however – and pretty much all in the other two competitions – feel like chance encounters. Worried whether you’ll accumulate enough points to avoid the repechage round of ties? Then check out results between teams in your league who you’re not even slated to play. Might as well be a ladder in your local padel club for all the competitive integrity the structure has. As for TV appeal, most viewers must be devoted fans of the teams involved, surely? And audience figures commensurately small.
Palace’s odyssey to Leipzig only truly caught fire in the knockout stages that began in late February. That’s no reflection on the opposition teams in the league stage, or the enthusiasm demonstrated by their travelling fans. But no sooner had we welcomed each of them than they were forgotten, with no opportunity for hospitality to be reciprocated and sporting reversals to be righted. The novelty of a first European campaign ensured away tickets for Palace fans sold swiftly, but Selhurst Park proved hard to fill even at knockdown prices.
I booked a (cancellable!) hotel room for Leipzig back in August when Palace played a two-legged qualifying tie to enter the competition proper and the team, based purely on the Premier League’s dominance of European football’s economy, was already cited as favourite by the bookies. Had a traditional cup competition ensued, however, I’d have likely had to bin that room booking well before New Year. As it is, the league format favoured those nations whose clubs have inherently deeper pockets. The semi-finals’ only rogue element on this financial basis was Ukraine’s Shakhtar Donetsk, the club’s pedigree and pipeline of Brazilian talent overcoming the obstacles posed by war.
Matches mean money and maybe clubs would balk at the jeopardy of straight knockout. But genuine fans would surely prefer giant killings and embarrassments barely averted to the current slog. Can you have too much football? A youngster might say not, but those of us more seasoned followers struggle with the crowded memories of a 60 game season, our emotions blunted by the sheer quantity of matches.
Spare a thought for the players too, whatever their wages. Palace’s left back Tyrick Mitchell has featured in all 60 matchday squads this season, being an unused sub on only five occasions.
I loved my trip to Strasbourg in November – police kettling, pepper spray and all. If Palace’s first European competition had ended there after the 2-1 defeat I wouldn’t have had any complaints. As it is, at the time of writing, we’re on our way still…
Give it up for 3UP
Domestic leagues have the same imperative as Uefa to maximise broadcast revenues. This requires jeopardy to persist as deep into the season as possible – hence the employment of play-offs to decide promotion (and in some cases relegation). “Spygate” may have thrust the EFL’s Championship play-off into the national news agenda this year, but there was drama on the pitch too up and down the English pyramid. Business as usual then.
That drama was nowhere greater than in the National League where Rochdale came from 0-2 behind in the seventh minute of injury time to draw with Boreham Wood, before going on to win a penalty shoot-out and gain promotion to League Two. The club had finished second in their league, 11 points ahead of third-placed Carlisle. The EFL only allows two promotion spots into the fourth tier of English football, though. Without those late goals this would have been an egregious sporting injustice – assuming results over a ten month season are to mean anything.
The National League is waging a 3UP campaign to persuade the EFL to mirror the number of promotions within the top four leagues. There are counter arguments around unequal financial regulations and academy systems between the EFL and National League. And so the can gets kicked down the road. But if two up works, why not three? Self-interest is never a good look.
It is ironic that the EFL has expanded its play-off system for the Championship next season, introducing an extra eliminator round involving the fifth to eighth placed finishers in the league. I’m not sure this enhances the sporting integrity of the Championship, but it certainly expands the competition’s commercial appeal by extending opportunity down the league and prolonging the dreams of fans of more clubs. Such a shame that it can’t see its way to do the same for those aspiring to join the EFL’s promised land.
No doubting Thomas
I’m grateful to Harry Maguire and his mother for igniting my interest in the coming World Cup. In Mrs Maguire’s kicking off online at her son’s omission from the England squad – and before its official announcement too – I became a convert to Thomas Tuchel as manager. Altogether now: ‘it’s coming home…’ (repeat ad nauseam).
“Shocked and gutted,” Harry Maguire said.
“Absolutely disgusted,” his mother Zoe added.
Ed Warner is chair of GB Wheelchair Rugby and writes his sport column at sportinc.substack.com
