UEFA have refused to rule out the possibility that major European clubs such as Manchester United and AC Milan could be guaranteed Champions League football in the future, regardless of their domestic league position.
It was recently suggested that the European Clubs Association—made up of the continent’s senior clubs—are hatching a money-spinning plan to reserve Champions League places every year from 2018 for the most high-profile clubs, per Martin Lipton in the Sun.
UEFA has refused to deny the plot, which would, in principle, guarantee the European elite—clubs such as United, Milan, Liverpool and Chelsea—a spot in the continent's premier tournament regardless of their league position, thus limiting the opportunity of smaller teams aiming for qualification, per the Sun's Dan King:
"UEFA constantly reviews the format of its competitions in close consultation with stakeholders, including the European Club Association," said a UEFA spokesperson.