Saudi Pro League’s Wildcard Plan for UEFA Champions League: What Happened?
Published 07:00 28 Aug 2024 GMT+1
Last summer, the Saudi Pro League launched an ambitious plan to enter a ‘wildcard’ team into the revamped UEFA Champions League. However, the plan has yet to come to fruition. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what happened and why it’s unlikely to happen anytime soon.
The Saudi Pro League made headlines last year by splashing out big bucks on high-profile stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Sadio Mane, and N’Golo Kante. While the league failed to secure moves for Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah, it’s clear that the league is committed to attracting top talent.
But what about the Champions League? According to Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport, Saudi authorities wanted the winners of its Pro League to be entered into the Champions League group stage from the 2024/25 season. This would have given the Saudi Pro League a massive boost in terms of profile and exposure, while allowing its best players to test themselves against Europe’s elite.
However, the plan seems to have stalled. In September 2023, European Clubs Association chair Nasser Al Khelaifi said it would be ‘very, very difficult’ to permit any club from outside of Europe to compete in the Champions League. He also expressed reservations about the idea of a standalone match between a team from Europe and a team from outside the continent.
When asked about the prospect of a potential standalone match, Al Khelaifi seemed open to the idea, saying that a Super Cup or similar event could be a possibility. However, he remained adamant that only European clubs should compete in the Champions League.
So what does this mean for the Saudi Pro League’s wildcard plan? Unfortunately, it looks like it’s dead in the water. Without the support of European football’s governing bodies, it’s unlikely that the Saudi Pro League will be able to break into the Champions League.
But that’s not all bad news. The Saudi Pro League can still attract top talent and build its reputation as a premier league. By focusing on developing home-grown talent and bringing in top coaches, the league can still achieve its goals.
What do you think? Should the Saudi Pro League be allowed to enter a wildcard team into the Champions League? Let us know in the comments!
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