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UEFA have been accused of using a patented model in the draw for the Champions League group stage
The group stage draw for the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League has been marked by controversy after a Chilean sports consultant, Leandro Shara, accused the European football governing body of using a format he claims to have invented without his approval.
The controversy centres around the new 36-team 'Swiss league phase' format, set to be implemented in European tournaments starting this season, which Shara insists is based on his copyrighted model.
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UEFA facing legal threats
Shara has reportedly sent a 'cease and desist notice' to UEFA, demanding that the European football organising body acknowledge his ownership of the format during the upcoming Champions League draw.
The consultant journalist, who says he copyrighted the system in Chile in 2006, has accused UEFA of the "unauthorised and unfair use" of his creation.
He claims to have presented the format to UEFA multiple times since 2013 and insists that the new league format should be recognised as the 'Leandro Shara System.'
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In response to Shara’s claims, UEFA issued a statement describing the accusations as "baseless" and suggested that the issue is just one of many similar actions against the organisation.
UEFA has expressed confidence in its position and dismissed the allegations as unworthy of serious consideration.
The new Champions League format and its implications
The new system, known as the 'Swiss Model,' will replace the traditional group phase model which had eight groups of four.
Instead, this season’s Champions League will see 36 teams compete against eight different opponents, with each team playing four matches at home and four away.
The top 16 teams qualify automatically to the next phase, while teams between 17 and 24 will contest for eight additional slots for the second round, while teams from 25th to 36th will be eliminated.
This change is expected to increase the number of matches from 125 to 189, creating an additional 64 games and generating more revenue.
While the new format is designed to provide smaller clubs with more opportunities to earn prize money, it has also drawn criticism from several quarters for adding to the already gruelling calendar in European football.
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