NYON, Switzerland, July 11: The sight of Europe’s top players struggling with fatigue and injuries at the World Cup, combined with a tired and criticised format, persuaded UEFA to announce an overhaul of the Champions League Thursday.

The European soccer union is scrapping the second group phase of the Champions League from the 2003-04 season in a bid to ease fixture congestion, UEFA president Lennart Johansson said after a two-day meeting of its executive committee.

The first phase of 32 teams drawn into eight groups of four clubs will be maintained, he told a news conference, but the second phase involving 16 teams will become a straight two-legged knockout competition with home and away matches.

The current format was introduced only three years ago but has prompted criticism from some broadcasters and clubs, not to mention increasing the workload for the continent’s top players.

Several clubs, led by Bayern Munich, have pushed for a reduction in the number of fixtures to ease congestion and the pressure on their top players.

But others, including Manchester United, wanted to keep the heavy fixture list to maintain their revenue streams.

“We believe this reduction in the size of the competition is in the longer-term interests of everyone involved — clubs, players, fans, broadcasters, sponsors and European football in general,” said Johansson.

Regarding the Champions’ League, Johansson said: “It is not easy to change a competition which is recognised as the best club event in the world, but sometimes you need to act for the future. We have been listening carefully to our stakeholders, and it is clear that there is a variety of views.

“However, we believe this is a moment for leadership in the wider interests of the game.”

He said that according to UEFA’s medical report following the World Cup finals there were far too many injuries and this was due to fatigue, particularly among top European players.

The executive committee agreed to evaluate the future of the UEFA Cup when it next meets on Dec 12 and 13.

It also received a progress report on the 2004 European Championships, which will be held in Portugal, and said this showed positive progress was being made.—Reuters