Arsenal’s English midfielder #07 Bukayo Saka (R) and teammates react to their defeat after the English League Cup final football match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium in London, UK, March 22, 2026. (AFP Photo)
March 24, 2026 11:30 AM GMT+03:00
UEFA has turned down a proposal from English Premier League clubs to expand UEFA Champions League squad sizes to 28 players, with reported opposition from Spanish representatives playing a key role in blocking the move.
Proposal stalls as UEFA leaves issue off executive agenda
According to a report by The Guardian, Premier League clubs had put forward a plan to increase squad limits in Europe’s top club competition, widely known as the Champions League, which is UEFA’s premier annual football tournament featuring leading teams from across Europe.
The proposal was discussed during a recent meeting of UEFA’s club competitions committee, a body that reviews and shapes tournament regulations, yet it did not make it onto the agenda of the upcoming UEFA Executive Committee meeting scheduled ahead of the Europa League final set to take place in Istanbul on May 20.
This development indicated that the proposal did not gather enough support to move forward for formal approval, effectively halting the process for now.
Spanish clubs raise concerns over financial imbalance
During the discussions, Spanish club representatives were reported to have voiced concerns about the financial strength of Premier League teams, suggesting that expanding squad sizes could allow English clubs to further strengthen their depth by leveraging their economic advantage.
While the proposal has been set aside, the report noted that the existing squad regulations, which were introduced about 20 years ago, could be reviewed again before the start of UEFA’s next four-year broadcasting cycle, beginning with the 2027–2028 season.
Despite the current squad restrictions, Premier League teams have continued to perform strongly in the competition. This season, all six participating English clubs reached the round of 16, although only Arsenal and Liverpool progressed to the quarterfinals.
March 24, 2026 11:30 AM GMT+03:00
