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UEFA planning major reforms to Champions League knockout stages

23. April 2025
(foto: uradna spletna stran kluba)
UEFA is considering major changes to the Champions League knockout rounds—including scrapping extra time, rewarding league form with home advantage, and separating same-country teams until the quarter-finals.

UEFA is preparing a set of revolutionary reforms to the Champions League knockout stages, aiming to ease player fatigue and boost the competition’s appeal amid an increasingly crowded calendar.

Following the overhaul of the league phase this season, attention has now shifted to the knockout rounds. According to reports from several European outlets, UEFA’s Club Competitions Committee has already discussed three major proposals that could be introduced as early as next season:

1. Immediate penalties after 90 minutes

UEFA is considering removing extra time altogether. If a knockout match is level after 90 minutes, it would go straight to penalties. The idea is to reduce physical strain on players while keeping matches fast-paced and decisive.

2. Home advantage for top league finishers

Another key proposal would give the top eight clubs from the league phase the advantage of playing the second leg at home in the round of 16, quarter-finals, and semi-finals. Currently, this privilege applies only to the round of 16.

3. Separation of teams from the same country

UEFA is also weighing the reintroduction of a rule preventing clubs from the same nation from meeting until the quarter-finals. With England and Spain regularly contributing 4–5 clubs each, the measure could reshape early knockout round dynamics.

The proposals will be officially reviewed on 30 May during a meeting of the UEFA Club Competitions Committee in Munich. If approved, the changes would come into force starting with the 2025/26 Champions League season.

The shift marks another significant evolution in UEFA’s flagship tournament, as it looks to balance modern football's demands with its storied traditions.

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