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sports Diahuebs 28 Januari 2021

After Super League leak, Juve leader backs reworking of CL

( AP ) - Juventus President
Andrea Agnelli is backing That competition would
a proposal to shake up begin with two groups of
the Champions League 10 teams, with the top four
that would create more from each group advanc-
games while maintaining ing to the quarterfinals.
an open qualifying sys- That would guarantee every
tem, rather than having a team between 18 and 23 an-
breakaway Super League nual Super League matches,
largely closed off to the compared to a minimum of
biggest clubs. six games in the Champions
League group stage.
As chairman of the European
Club Association, Agnelli had The current Champions
previously advocated a refor- League requires all 32 teams
matting of the Champions to qualify based on their do-
League that would give guar- mestic league positions, al-
anteed places for 24 teams. though the defending cham-
But that divisive vision was pion and Europa League
widely rejected and now he is winner are guaranteed access.
embracing a variation of the Agnelli didn't specify how
so-called “Swiss system." qualification for a Swiss-sys-
tem league may differ, but
It’s one of several options made it clear he wants it to be
for a revamped Champi- based on recent results rather
ons League being discussed. would then play eight to 14 of years ago as a potential sys- The desire for a collective than history.
Last week, documents were games, with opponents de- tem,” Agnelli said during a agreement is in contrast to
leaked to the media show- termined based on ranking News Tank Football virtual some of Europe's biggest “Competitions at European
ing that some top European positions. The format would event on Wednesday. “What clubs leading the way in level should be open to all
clubs are pushing for a Super also allow for the competi- I can tell you with certainty pushing for a Super League. so that we as managers of
League that would be largely tion to be expanded to 36 is from the ECA’s perspec- the industry we must keep
closed to the same teams each teams. tive given what has happened That plan would be for a 20- the dream alive,” Agenlli
year. in 2019 I will want any and team annual competition that said. “Everything must be
“The so-called Swiss system all reforms to go through would include 15 top clubs based on sporting matters,
Agnelli's backing is for a for- is a very interesting system the general assembly of the as permanent members. The on sporting merit, but we
mat that would place all 32 and the credit for this idea ECA with all clubs voting for five other teams would vary should remember where the
teams into a single league has to be given to one of our whatever our collective fu- each season, although the fans of the future are going so
table rather than the cur- members of the ECA, Ajax, ture will be.” qualification method has not it is our view that more Euro-
rent eight groups. Each team for pointing this out a couple been determined. pean matches are welcome."

New Tennessee coach not deterred by NCAA investigation

( AP ) - Josh Heupel said years or if eight or more through the 2023 season. fired on Jan. 18. Plowman called “stunning."
he believes he can posi- scholarships are cut. The NCAA opened a case in
tion Tennessee football White was hired on Jan. 21 The firings followed an in- December and has had in-
for long-term success as White said Heupel was his and his first job was to find a ternal investigation with out- vestigators involved the past
he joins his former UCF top candidate based on his new coach. Pruitt, two assis- side attorneys into recruiting couple weeks.
boss Danny White, who integrity, history of winning tants and seven others were issues that Chancellor Donde
started as Tennessee's ath- titles and being an innova-
letic director last week, in tive football mind who has
a new package deal for a led explosive offenses. Heu-
program dealing with an pel said he wasn't deterred by
NCAA investigation. the NCAA investigation that
started with the firing of Ten-
“We ran an exhaustive na- nessee's last coach, Jeremy
tionwide search," White said. Pruitt.
"I know that sounds crazy be-
cause I’m hiring the guy I’ve “I believe in a very, very
worked with the last three bright future for Tennes-
years. If anything, I was try- see football,” Heupel said. “I
ing not to hire the coach believe that there's a minor
from UCF.” speed bump that we're go-
ing through, but the kids that
White hired Heupel on are in our program right now
Wednesday as Tennessee's and the kids that are being
27th head coach and fifth recruited are going to have
coach, not counting interim a chance to play and chase
or acting coaches, since the championships.”
end of the 2008 season.
Heupel was 28-8 in three
Heupel received a six-year seasons at UCF, where White
deal worth $4 million a year. hired him to replace Scott
Tennessee will pay half his Frost after the Knights went
buyout from UCF, and his 13-0 in 2017. White signed
contract has a clause extend- Heupel to a one-year exten-
ing his deal in case of a post- sion in December 2018 that
season ban of two or more kept him under contract