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UEFA is considering a radical change to the Champions League format, which could even mean scrapping extra time in knockout stage games. The proposal is part of a broader look at ways to ease player workloads and the increasingly congested football calendar. If approved, matches that are tied after 90 minutes would go straight to penalty shootouts without the traditional 30-minute extra time. The earliest it can be put into practice, however, will be in 2027 with the end of the current TV rights cycle. The removal of extra time had gathered steam as a way within UEFA to lighten the overall minute load on the top clubs.
An expanded Champions League group stage, where each team is now guaranteed a minimum of eight games, and an expanded FIFA Club World Cup featuring 12 European teams have only just increased that fixture congestion. These moves have brought added concerns regarding player welfare and how much more can be asked of players with the current match schedule. This takes away the extra time and could be interpreted as a step to lighten the burden on players who have been stretched by an expanding fixture list-an issue that has been complained about by players’ unions. This may even out the playing field for those clubs with small squads against rivals that can draw from much larger panels.
Broadcasters could appreciate the predictability, not overrun beyond scheduled times. This follows a previous consideration by UEFA to remove extra time from the Super Cup from 2023. Domestically, too, competitions like the FA Cup have moved to curb fixture congestion by abolishing replays. Abroad, Copa América recently did away with extra time in knockout stages, going directly to penalties when matches are tied after 90 minutes, except in the final.
Both moves reflect the wider trend in football governance to prioritize player welfare and meet the challenges of an increasingly crowded match calendar. Any proposed changes to the Champions League format would have to be approved by UEFA’s executive committee. It is unlikely, because of existing television rights agreements, that any modifications would be in place before 2027. That leaves ample time for consideration and consultation with all stakeholders. Removing additional time in the Champions League knockout stages-what a big upheaval in the way European football has so far viewed structuring matches. Although meant to reduce player fatigue and manage fixture congestion, this proposal most certainly will widen debates among fans, players, and officials on how it would affect the dynamics and traditions of the game.
The beautiful game is fading away in real time