PARIS - UEFA, the richest and most powerful continental football confederation, elects a new president this week as it confronts a growing challenge to its cash-cow Champions League. Strongly denying the report, Ceferin told PA Sport that Van Praag was "making up stories trying to pollute the pre-election time". - Champions League controversy -But the absence of Platini this year as he lost his battle against a FIFA suspension over a $2 million payment has seen a growing challenge to the Champions League from within Europe and outside, with the Chinese conglomerate Wanda reportedly ready to finance a rival tournament. UEFA announced last month that it has decided for 2018-2021 that the four top European leagues -- Spain, England, Germany and Italy -- will have four automatic places in the Champions League. The ECA strongly welcomed the UEFA reforms which entrenched their place in the Champions League and lion's share of the league's multi-billion dollar revenues.

Source: Bangkok Post September 12, 2016 01:52 UTC