New distribution concept for club competitions approved

013 – UEFA Women's Champions League expanded from 2016/17 season

The UEFA Executive Committee, chaired by UEFA President Michel Platini, yesterday held its latest meeting in Vienna, Austria, ahead of the XXXIX UEFA Ordinary Congress on Tuesday 24 March.

A new financial distribution system was agreed for clubs competing in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, with a view to increasing solidarity payments, as well as payments to clubs in the UEFA Europa League for the 2015–18 cycle. The details of the agreement will be presented to the clubs on the occasion of the European Club Association's general assembly, which takes place in Stockholm, Sweden, on Tuesday 31 March.

The number of teams entering the 2016/17 UEFA Women's Champions League will be increased, with the top 12 national associations in the rankings allowed to enter the runner-up in their domestic competition, as well as their domestic champion – this opportunity is currently offered only to the top eight-ranked associations.

The competition format of the European Qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup was confirmed. The 52 participating UEFA member associations (Russia qualify as hosts, and Gibraltar is not a FIFA member) will be divided into nine groups: seven groups of six teams and two groups of five. The nine group winners qualify directly, and the eight best runners-up go into the play-offs to determine the remaining four qualified sides. Matches in the European Qualifiers will be played between September 2016 and November 2017.

Gibraltar was admitted to the UEFA Grassroots Charter, which now comprises all 54 UEFA member associations.

Finally, the regulations for a variety of competitions were approved:

 2015–18 UEFA Champions League

 2015–18 UEFA Europa League

 2015–18 UEFA Super Cup

 2015/16 UEFA Youth League

 2015/16 UEFA Futsal Cup

 2015/16 UEFA Women's Champions League

 2015/16 UEFA European Under-19 Championship

 2015/16 UEFA European Under-17 Championship

 2015/16 UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship

 2015/16 UEFA European Women's Under-17 Championship

 UEFA European Qualifying Competition for the 2016 FIFA Futsal World Cup

The next meeting of the UEFA Executive Committee is scheduled to take place in Prague, Czech Republic, on 29/30 June, prior to the final of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship on 30 June.