Kieran Maguire: West Ham are livid as ‘£150m’ blow all but confirmed
West Ham are right to be livid at Uefa’s plans to reform the Champions League and hand already-wealthy clubs a potential “£150million” boost.
So says finance guru Kieran Maguire, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the divisive plans to expand Europe’s top club competition.
Uefa announced in May last year that the Champions League will feature 36 teams and nearly twice as many matches under a new format from 2024-25.
The plans are all but confirmed, with the qualification mechanism for two of the extra four spots in the competition the only aspect yet to be ratified.
It has been widely reported that Uefa want to award the spots based on historic performance and not league position on a season-by-season basis.
And per iNews last Thursday (14 April), West Ham, Newcastle United and Leicester City have led protests in the Premier League against the reforms.
Maguire echoed their outrage at Uefa’s plans, which he believes will further entrench financial disparities within football.
“West Ham know that the ‘sneaky six’ are trying to ensure a closed shop,” he told Football Insider‘s Adam Williams.
“Even if West Ham themselves don’t qualify for the Champions League, being in it can be worth up to £150m per season.
“If places are going to go to clubs who haven’t won anything for ages but have a good coefficient, that gives those clubs a huge advantage over West Ham.
“It therefore makes sense to see the dissatisfaction with such an approach because it goes against the principles of sporting merit.“
The Hammers, who face 3rd-place Chelsea on Sunday (24 April), are still in the hunt for a European place this season.
They have also reached the semi-finals of the Europa League where they will soon face Eintracht Frankfurt across two legs.
In other news, medical expert claims Issa Diop’s season may be over as West Ham confirm “ligament damage”.