England, Spain, Italy To Lose Fourth Champions League Berth?

Michel Platini has hinted that he will move to reduce the maximum number of clubs from a country allowed into the Champions League, if he were to succeed Lennart Johansson as UEFA President.

It was under Johansson's supervision that up to four entries from a country were allowed, but Platini siad he felt that was a little too much.

The French legend is challenging Johansson - who has been in charge since 1990, and is bidding for a fourth term in January - for the presidency of UEFA.

"Four clubs are too many," he said, as he kicked off his media campaign. "For everybody; for the country itself, the fans and for the TV rights. Three should be the absolute limit.

"I am not so stupid as to want to change the current format but there are not enough national champions in the last 32 of the tournament and that cannot be right."

"I like Lennart Johansson," Platini said, before continuing: "He's a very courageous guy but those who are pushing him are not so courageous.

"He told me two years ago he was retiring, yet he came back to fight against me. I don't know why. I believe many federations would like him to withdraw rather than see him lose, because he's a decent man and that would be very sad."

"We have to fight for youth players," said Platini, outlining his vision for the future. "If a club develops a player between the age of 12 and 18 and another club then buys him, he has to carry on playing. Players are developed to play, not to be sold."

He also gave his views on refereeing: "We have to help referees who can't see everything and I believe two more assistants on either side of the pitch would do this. It would help judging offside decisions as well as a range of off-the-ball incidents."

However, he was against the use of videos for refereeing: "I am totally against refereeing by video. Where would it stop? If you start with videos, you will finish with videos and there would be no more referees."

Needless to say, it is his call to reduce the maximum number of clubs from a country in the Champions League, that has attracted the most interest. While the bigger footballing nations in Europe are unlikely to be happy, it is being seen as a great political move, particularly to get the smaller nations on his side, as it would ensure greater participation for them.

I can see the point Platini is trying to make and I kind of agree with it. The gap between the country haves and the country havenots is becoming bigger. I'd like to see more smaller nations in the CL as it would go some ways to strengthen football in the former eastern bloc nations.

Though I wonder what kind of effect it would have on the countries reduced from 4 to 3? Would it force the big spenders to spend more, causing a continual repeat of the same teams in the CL? To be honest, after the Moggi scandal in Italy, Serie A really should be reduced from 4 to 3 strictly on the merit of Serie A corruption.

Maybe is that good, because small clubs like my Dinamo will have little higher chances.