FA Cup winner to be awarded Champions League spot – but rule change only applies to ‘big clubs’

The winners of the FA Cup could qualify for the Champions League from 2024 under new rules – though only if the club has a high co-efficient ranking in Uefa competitions.

European football’s governing body are currently working on plans to reform the Champions League, expanding the competition proper from 32 teams to 36 teams with two of those extra places originally intended to go to clubs based on their ‘historical significance’.

In three of the last four seasons, those places would have gone to the two members of the Premier League’s so-called ‘big six’ that failed to qualify for the competition through their league ranking.

According to The Telegraph, the proposals have now been refined slightly with the ‘legacy’ team needing to have either finished one place outside the Champions League spots or won their domestic cup – though this still massively favours established, big clubs.

To use this season as an example, if Chelsea, Liverpool or Manchester City somehow conspired to finish outside the top four but won the FA Cup, they would have a high enough co-efficient ranking to claim a Champions League berth.

But Crystal Palace, who have no co-efficient ranking having not competed in Europe recently, would not be granted the Champions League berth if they won the FA Cup.

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The European Club Association had hoped UEFA would ditch their plans to create a safety net for big clubs should they fail to qualify for the Champions League under the current conditions, but they have only offered a compromise.

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