UEFA president Michel Platini is pushing ahead with
plans for domestic cup winners to have a place in the Champions
League.
Platini outlined his wishes to members of UEFA's executive
committee last week and a final decision will be made at the end of
September.
The UEFA president has backed down on his plans to cut the number
of Champions League places for those countries who have four spots,
but he has put forward alternative proposals for 'play-offs' where
the lowest-placed qualifiers from England, Spain, Italy, France,
Germany and Portugal would play against each other to leave more
spaces for clubs from smaller countries.
The proposals will first be put before the new Professional
Football Strategy Council in August before UEFA's executive
committee makes a final decision at a meeting in Istanbul on
September 26 and 27.
A UEFA source said: "The president appears very keen to include cup
winners in the Champions League - it boosts national associations
and also helps cup competitions in those countries where it has
diminished in importance."
