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The winners of Europe’s domestic cup competitions could be given places in the Champions League.
UEFA said it was considering the option as part of the reform of its elite club competition. Cup winners currently gain entry into the lower-level UEFA Cup.
“Perhaps we can move certain cup winners into the Champions League,” said William Gaillard, an adviser to UEFA president Michel Platini.
Germany, England, Spain and Italy get four spots in the Champions League, but Platini has said he wants to reduce that to three to ensure that more countries are represented in the competition.
As a compromise it could be reduced to three plus the cup winner.
“We will have to look at this in the strategic council,” Gaillard said of the body set up to assess competition changes.
The move would also help revive the standing of cup competitions, which have suffered in recent years.
“It would restore some of the value,” Gaillard said.
Germany, Spain and Scotland have already backed the principle, while it had not yet been discussed with the Premier League and English FA, Gaillard said.
UEFA is also looking at having a qualifying round where the third and fourth-place teams in Europe’s big three leagues would play each other instead of clubs from smaller nations.
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