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      Premier League clubs set to take back crown as top European nation for first time in nine years after recent dominance

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      ENGLISH football is poised to reclaim the title of best in Europe – after NINE years.And if either Chelsea or Arsenal beat their Spanish opponents this week, England will be confirmed in top spot – even if all four remaining Prem clubs go out at the semi-final stage.
      Premier League clubs are on course to reclaim top spot in the European tableCredit: Getty
      The exploits of the Prem’s Euro battlers have seen England’s five-year Uefa coefficient score rise to 98.283 points.
      Two points are earned for every win and one for each draw in European competition, divided between the number of teams who have qualified – seven in the case of England – to provide an average score for each country.
      England started the season in second place behind Spain, who have been top of the Euro table since 2012.
      But while English clubs have accrued 22.071 points so far, Spain have gathered just 18.642, for a total of 96.997.
      With only Real Madrid and Villarreal left of LaLiga’s initial seven sides, Spain’s maximum possible final total is 98.711.
      England will be assured of topping that if Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United pick up just three draws, or a win and a draw, in their combined eight matches across both legs of the semi-finals.
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      But a win for either Chelsea against Real on Tuesday, or the Gunners against Unai Emery’s side on Thursday, will ensure England cannot be overtaken.
      The Prem last stood on top of the pile after Chelsea’s Champions League triumph in 2012.
      English football was at the head of the standings from the end of the 2007-08 season – when Chelsea met United in the Moscow Champions League final – for five years.
      But Spain then took over, with England actually falling below Germany and into third place in 2015-16 and then again the following campaign.
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      What happens now the European Super League has collapsed More

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      European Super League plotters face Champions League BAN next season as Uefa chief compares them to ‘flat-Earthers’

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      EUROPEAN SUPER LEAGUE clubs could face a Champions League ban next season.And Uefa chief Alexander Ceferin even compared the breakaway rebels to ‘flat-Eathers’ for their outdated views their plot could still succeed.
      Alexander Ceferin promised to punish the rebel clubs who attempted their European Super League breakawayCredit: AP
      A week on from the bombshell announcement from the 12 European clubs hoping to form a new franchise-style competition, the Slovenian is determined to ensure they are punished.
      On Tuesday, the six Premier League rebels all withdrew their intention to join the ESL, the brainchild of Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.
      And that is likely to see the English clubs’ sanctions more lenient than other ringleaders Real, Barcelona and Juventus – who are so out of touch with reality it is like they believe the Earth is not round, according to Ceferin.
      He threatened to suspend the clubs from Europe’s elite club competition and told the Mail on Sunday: “Let’s see. Everyone has to take consequences for what they did and we cannot pretend nothing happened.
      “You cannot do something like that and just say, ‘I’ve been punished because everybody hates me’.
      “They don’t have problems because of anyone else but themselves. It’s not OK what they did and we will see in next few days what we have to do.
      “But for me it’s a clear difference between the English clubs and the other six. They pulled out first, they admitted they made a mistake. You have to have some greatness to say, ‘I was wrong’.”
      Ceferin continued: “For me there are three groups of this 12 – the English six, who went out first, then the other three [Atletico Madrid, AC Milan, Inter] after them and then the ones who feel that Earth is flat and they think the Super League still exists.
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      “And there is a big difference between those. But everyone will be held responsible. In what way, we will see.
      “I don’t want to say disciplinary process but it has to be clear that everyone has to be held responsible in a different way.
      “Is it disciplinary? Is it the decision of the executive committee? We will see. It’s too early to say.”
      Perez is convinced the ESL will still go ahead in some format – especially because he claims the clubs are legally bound by the contracts they signed.
      Ceferin, who was driving to Nyon to implement reforms to the Champions League when the news broke, previously stated how he felt betrayed by the owners involved in the plot – especially the father of his godchild and Juve chief Andrea Agnelli.

      The Uefa president hailed the unified response of pundits, fans and politicians in England to help stamp out the rebellion plans within 48 hours.
      He said: “Look, honestly speaking I was completely impressed by the reaction of the fans, the whole football community and not just the football community but I would say society. I have never seen this.
      “Uefa did its part, the clubs that stood with us did their part. And of course, the UK Government out of all did the big part. But by far the biggest part was done by fans.
      “Absolutely I was impressed by the reaction of UK Government. I had a phone conversation with Prime Minister Johnson and State Secretary Dowden many times in these 48 crazy hours.
      “They were on the right side of history at the right time. And this is impressive.”
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      Florentino Perez was the man driving the ESL and insists his plans are ‘still alive’Credit: EPA

      Real Madrid chief Perez insists European Super League still alive More

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      What is the Europa Conference League and does the Carabao Cup winner qualify for it?

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      UEFA will be starting a new European competition from next season – the Europa Conference League.Here’s all you need to know about the tournament, which will see one English team take part.
      Tottenham are one of the teams who could end up in the Europa Conference LeagueCredit: Getty
      What is the Europa Conference League?
      The Europa Conference League is Uefa’s new third tier European competition.
      The idea is theoretically to give more clubs from more countries the chance to play European football.
      Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin said: “The new UEFA club competition makes UEFA’s club competitions more inclusive than ever before.
      “There will be more matches for more clubs, with more associations represented in the group stages.”
      Like the Champions League and Europa League, the competition will consist of a group and knockout stage.

      Which English teams qualify for the Europa Conference League?
      England has been granted one Europa Conference League place.
      That will go to the Carabao Cup winner, should they not finish in the top 6.
      If a top 6 side wins the Carabao Cup, the Conference League spot will go to the team finishing seventh in the Premier League.
      All other Premier League European spots are unchanged, with the top 4 entering the Champions League and fifth and sixth being granted Europa League spots.
      Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin says the Europa Conference League will give more clubs than ever before the chance to play in EuropeCredit: EPA
      Which other teams qualify for the Europa Conference League?
      The 2021-22 European season will involve a slimmed down Europa League with more teams entering the Conference League.
      Just 57 teams will compete in the Europa League compared to 184 in the Europa Conference League.
      While the champions of every country will get the chance to qualify for the Champions League, all other teams from countries ranked below 15th in the Uefa Coefficients will enter the Europa Conference League rather than the Europa League.
      Teams eliminated from the Champions League preliminary round and first qualifying rounds will also go to the Conference League, as well as those eliminated from the Europa League third qualifying round, play-off round and third place finishers in the group stage.

      How will the Europa League change?
      The Europa League group stage will be reduced to 32 teams from the current 48.
      Group winners will now advance to the last 16 of the tournament while runners-up will have to play a preliminary knockout stage against the third placed Champions League teams.
      Does the winner of the Europa Conference League qualify for any other tournaments?
      The Europa Conference League winner will qualify for the following season’s Europa League. More

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      Uefa hail Boris Johnson for helping save European football by leading ‘revolution’ against European Super League

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      UEFA chief Aleksander Ceferin has hailed PM Boris Johnson for helping save European football by leading the national ‘revolution’.Johnson’s dramatic intervention and promises to bring in laws to block the Super League breakaway cut off the legs of the ‘dirty dozen’ plotters.
      Aleksander Ceferin has praised the British governmentCredit: EPA
      Boris Johnson was dead against the Super LeagueCredit: AFP
      And now Ceferin has spoken of the debt Uefa owes to the PM and the British government.
      Ceferin said: “Boris Johnson is aware that football fans are from the working class.
      “They live hard, and they spend the last money to watch football matches, which is their passion, relaxation, which is part of European culture, part of history. 
      “It seemed to me the reaction was very logical – he cared what happened to football, because that would affect the people, of course.”
      Ceferin added: “In England there are so many fans and they love their club immensely.
      “If the fans get angry, it is a kind of revolution. 
      “And no country can afford that. 
      “I find it very responsible from the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to take a sharp stand on the side of the fans, not only because of the culture and love of football, but also because it ensures order in the country.
      “We were in contact and I also spoke to his cabinet. They responded excellently.

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      “I must say I was impressed by their effectiveness. 
      “They immediately said they were available to us for anything to release a very sharp statement.
      “And that reaction from the British government helped us all a lot.”
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      UEFA chief Aleksander Ceferin attacks Big Six English clubs for wanting to join European Super League More

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      Wembley set to land two or three Euro 2020 matches as Dublin and Bilbao miss out

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      WEMBLEY is expected to be awarded two or three extra Euro 2020 matches when Uefa chiefs make their final decisions on the event this morning.On Monday Uefa put off their last call on what to do about the tournament’s games scheduled for Dublin and Bilbao as they took on the Super League rebels.
      Wembley is set to welcome some more Euro 2020 games in the summerCredit: PA
      But Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin has set today’s emergency meeting of the ruling executive committee as his final deadline.
      Both Dublin and Bilbao were unable to meet the guarantee that fans will be allowed into stadiums to watch games.
      It is anticipated two of the matches due to be played at the Aviva will be moved to Wembley.
      But with the FA’s firm stance in backing Uefa against the Super League wannabes having been gratefully received in Nyon, Gareth Southgate’s England could also play their last-16 game at Wembley — if they can win their group.
      At least one of the Dublin matches — Sweden’s game with Slovakia on June 18 — is likely to be moved to St Petersburg in Russia.
      The Bilbao games will all stay in Spain but be switched to Seville.
      It has been confirmed that Rome will stage all its matches, including the tournament opener on June 11.
      But doubts remain over Munich, with Uefa hoping to get agreement from German authorities before the final decision is made.
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      England boast the most-valuable squad of all Euro 2020 nations
      England are already scheduled to play their three group games against Croatia, Scotland and Czech Republic at the national stadium.
      It will be the first set of major tournament games the Three Lions have played at Wembley since Euro 96.
      Southgate’s men are currently joint favourites for Euro 2020 along with world champions France.
      Belgium, Germany, Spain and Portugal shortly follow the two front-runners in what promises to be a hotly contested competition.
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      Chelsea clash with Real Madrid in Champions League in ‘small’ doubt as Uefa chief hint leaves Florentino Perez fuming

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      UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin says there is still a possibility that Chelsea’s game with Real Madrid will be binned.The Champions League semi-finalists signed up to the European Super League that collapsed in dramatic fashion 48 hours after its unveiling.
      Florentino Perez (left) and Aleksander Ceferin (right) are at war over the ESLCredit: PA
      Chelsea are due to face Real Madrid in the Champions League next weekCredit: Getty
      Furious Ceferin, 53, vowed to crack down on the 12 sides who attempted to usurp the governing body’s competitions.
      And he has left the door open to kicking any of the involved teams out of THIS YEAR’S Champions League.
      He told Slovenian TV channel 24UR, via Marca: “The key is that this season has already started, so broadcasters would come at us for damages if we don’t play the semi-finals.
      “So, there’s a relatively small possibility that this match isn’t played next week.
      “But, things could be a little different in the future.”
      Real club president Florentino Perez was one of the key figures behind the ESL, which he has claimed is on ‘standby’.
      Speaking to El Larguero, he criticised Ceferin and spoke of his desire for an ‘educated’ Uefa boss.
      He insisted: “I’m not afraid of retaliation from Uefa, but I’m worried.
      “The president said on Financial Fair Play that it was necessary to protect those who financially support their teams. Everyone interprets it as they want.
      “We had prepared for everyone from every place to speak. We were killed with terrible aggression.”
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      Perez added that he ‘does not understand’ why Chelsea versus Real Madrid may be abandoned.
      The tie kicks off in Spain next Tuesday before the Stamford Bridge return leg on May 5.
      Ceferin added: “If these clubs want to play in our competition again, they will have to get close to us.
      “And we will have to evaluate what happened, but I don’t want to go into details, as we are still talking to our legal team.

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      “I would say that the English clubs have made a very good decision and we will take that into account.
      “They admitted their mistake and realised they were wrong. We all make mistakes. In a way, I was disappointed with everyone, but I must say that maybe Barcelona are the ones that disappointed me the least.
      “[Club president Joan] Laporta was elected very recently and I spoke to him two or three times. He was under great pressure due to the financial situation he inherited.”
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      UEFA chief Aleksander Ceferin attacks Big Six English clubs for wanting to join European Super League More

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      Champions League revamp explained after major changes missed amid European Super League uproar, as group stage SCRAPPED

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      THE chaos caused by the Super League shambles meant far-reaching changes to the existing European competitions passed by almost unnoticed.Uefa rubber-stamped its proposals, backed by national associations, for a major revamp to start from the 2024-25 season and to run for at least nine years.
      Uefa have rubber-stamped their proposals for the Champions League revampCredit: EPA
      How the revamped tournament will lookCredit: The Sun
      SunSport explains what was agreed:
      So what is the new plan?
      The Champions League will be revamped and expanded from 32 clubs to 36 per season, with the initial group stage scrapped and replaced by a single league.
      How do you fit in another 70 games?
      You can’t. And they won’t. Instead, each team will play 10 matches, five home and five away, against opponents seeded for strength, under the so-called ‘Swiss model’.
      After the 10 matches, scheduled to be extended into the last week of January, we will have the final table.
      Then what happens?
      The top eight will go straight through to the knock-out stage, with the teams finishing ninth to 24th playing off in two-legged ties to join them in the last 16 and the bottom eight out of the competition.
      There will be no trapdoor to the Europa League.
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      Then it’s a normal knock-out?
      Not completely. Uefa is considering seeding the entire draw from the last 16 stage, so that the top two in the League stage can avoid each other until the Final.
      And it is increasingly likely that the semi-final stage will be merged with the showpiece event into a ‘Final Four’ series of sudden death matches at the end of May.

      Who will make up the teams involved?
      Uefa think the current system, involving four guaranteed places for the leading four nations – currently England, Spain, Germany and Italy – should remain.
      But the four extra places will go to the fourth team in the fifth-ranked League – currently France although they could be overtaken by Portugal – one to an extra side from the play-off ‘champions’ path’ and two for ‘the clubs with the highest club coefficient over the last five years who have not qualified for the group stage but have for European competition’.
      The revamp will also effect the Europa League competitionCredit: Getty
      The what?
      Every team who enters European competition earns ‘coefficient points’ for wins, draws and qualification bonuses.
      These will be calculated over five years, effectively providing a backdoor route for major teams who have a relative nightmare domestically but still finish in a European place.
      If adopted this season, based on current league tables, the two boosted clubs would be Liverpool (sixth in the Prem) and Dortmund (fifth in the Bundesliga). West Ham (fifth) would stay in the Europa League.
      Talking of the Europa League…
      Both the Europa League and the new Uefa Conference League, due to start next season, will also be expanded to 36 teams.
      But teams would play just eight matches in the Europa and six in the Conference league stages, allowing exclusive Champions League programmes, with matches also played on a Thursday, on two weeks.
      Is this a fixed idea?
      In outline yes. The basics have been approved by all relevant parties and it is envisaged that the extension from 125 Champions League games per season to 225 will bring in as much as an extra £500m per season in TV and sponsorship packages alone.
      But the Super League rebellion has already brought arguments that the coefficient places should be scrapped as punishment with more champions from smaller countries qualifying automatically.
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      Uefa make direct plea to Prem Big Six to make U-turn over European Super League for sake of ‘home of football’ England

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      UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin today made a personal plea to the Prem Big Six to admit to their ‘mistake’ and recant the decision to sign up to a breakaway Super League.In a remarkable direct statement to Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs, United and City, Ceferin’s address to the Uefa Congress in Montreux urged the six to reflect on the damage they were on the verge of dealing to English and world football and to the fans who ‘bleed themselves dry’ for their clubs.
      Aleksander Ceferin has addressed the ‘Big Six’Credit: AP
      Ceferin, who branded the owners of the rebel 12 as turning their backs on the heritage and integrity of football, recognises Real Madrid and Juventus are now too far gone to come back into the fold.
      But while Liverpool and United were the two English ringleaders, the Slovenian clearly feels an emotional appeal could yet bring a U-turn.
      Ceferin said: “I would like to address the owners of some English clubs. 
      “Gentlemen, you have made a huge mistake. 
      “Some will say it is greed, others disdain, arrogance, flippancy or complete ignorance of England’s football culture. Actually, it doesn’t matter.
      “What matters is that there is still time to change your mind. Everyone makes mistakes in life.
      “English fans deserve to have you correct your mistake. They deserve respect.”
      Ceferin revealed he had received an email on Monday “from a Tottenham fan, Trevor”.

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      He added: It was a very touching email, with two simple but strong messages.
      “If you read the email, you would be close to crying.
      “Trevor said ‘I am terribly disappointed by my club; if I can help in any way to help stop the breakaway, please let me know’.
      “England, this incredible nation with such strong and unique links to football, deserves to have you correct your mistake. It deserves respect.
      “Correct your mistake, turn back, come to your senses. 
      “Not out of love for football – because I imagine some of you don’t have much of that.
      Do it out of respect for the English people, for the home of footballAleksander Ceferin
      “But out of respect for those who bleed themselves dry so that they can go to the stadium to support their team and want the dream to be kept alive.
      “Do it out of respect for the English people, for the home of football.
      “About the email, a message to Trevor, you already helped me, more than you can imagine. Because with your message, I know that we are right, and they are wrong. 
      “And I will fight for you and the fans. We will fight and it’s a match, together, that we cannot lose.”
      Ceferin’s appeal came just minutes after Fifa chief Gianni Infantino backed Uefa’s determined stance against the breakaway 12.
      Infantino was accused in January by LaLiga boss Javier Tebas of helping orchestrate the breakaway movement,
      But the Fifa President nailed his colours to the mast as he said:  “At Fifa we can only and strongly disapprove the creation of the Super League, which is is a closed shop and which is a break away from the current institutions.
      “It would be outside the system and there is no doubt whatsoever of Fifa disapproval for this and our full support for European football.

      Gianni Infantino also bemoaned the ESLCredit: EPA
      “The magic of football is the direct link from the very lowest league to the top.
      “People need to think very carefully and reflect and assume responsibility. 
      “They need to think not only about their shareholders but also about all the people, the fans and those who have contributed to create what European football is today.
      “It is our task to protect the European model to protect clubs and club competitions and national teams.
      “If some elect to go their own way then they must live with the consequences of their choice and answer for it.
      “This means either you are in or you are out. You cannot be half in or half out. Everybody has to think about it. This is absolutely clear.”
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