UEFA open to Champions League including five English teams

UEFA will announce on Friday that the winners of the Europa League will qualify for the Champions League - from 2015 onwards.

The move is designed to give a boost to Europe's second-tier competition and could mean five English teams playing in the Champions League

From 2015, the Europa League winners and the European champions will automatically qualify for the Champions League - but an English winner of either would not preclude the team placed fourth in the Premier League from qualifying for the top competition.

That will eradicate the possibility of a repeat of last season, when Tottenham Hotspur clinched fourth only to find themselves entering the Europa League by virtue of Chelsea's Champions League success.

UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino said: "We must do something to improve the Europa League and one way is to have a sporting incentive for the Europa League to qualify for the Champions League.

"It will be decided at the Congress on Friday. The new cycle will begin in 2015."

With security high on the agenda ahead of the Champions League final, Infantino added: "There's maybe an additional tension. We are in close contact with the police authorities. They know much better than we do how to deal with these matters.

"UEFA are saddened by what happened but we are not concerned because England and London know how to organise big events and everything is taken care of in a perfect way."

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11945/8730422/UEFA-open-to-Champions-League-including-five-English-teams

I think this is a great idea - Makes the Europa much more appealing to win - big money top the winner...

This is a good idea IMO, gives the teams in the competition something to aim for, not that a trophy isn't enough but teams like Swansea for example may put more emphasis on winning the competition instead of fielding weaker teams to make do for a mid table finish.

But the winner of the Europa League will not be able to defend their victory in The Europa League, as they will ahve been promoted to The Champions League!! Thus making a mockery of thus cup itself and thus proving that The Europa League is nothing more than a side-show!

Yes this is a great idea. It is particularly good for clubs like Bolton when we were in the Europa League and had next to no chance of making the champions league through the league.

The Europa is a 2nd tier cup anyway, that's why the losers who get knocked out of the Champions League then enter in the Europa as a runner up prize...This to me means when Bolton next qualify for the Europa (in 3 seasons then it will be easier to win the Europa than finish in fourth or above in the League.

(Didn't see Michael's post before I posted)

Fucking shame they didnt do this when we were in with a fighting chance. Megson threw it.

Never to it again.

But the Europa league should NOT have the Champs League losers in it.