Arsenal’s complaint could lead to some changes in the Champions League

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·01 de junho de 2025

Arsenal’s complaint could lead to some changes in the Champions League

Arsenal have reportedly filed a formal complaint to UEFA following a controversial decision that saw them play the second leg of their knockout tie against Paris Saint-Germain away from home. The Gunners were left dissatisfied with the scheduling, particularly as they had secured a top-four finish in the league phase of the Champions League, unlike PSG, who struggled during that stage.

Traditionally, finishing higher in the league phase is expected to come with certain advantages, such as playing the second leg at home. Arsenal felt that UEFA’s decision to reverse this norm not only disrupted the balance of the fixture but also undermined the reward structure for strong group-stage performance. A similar situation occurred earlier in the competition when the Gunners played Real Madrid at the Emirates in the first leg before travelling to the Bernabéu for the return match.

Vídeos OneFootball

UEFA Responds to Arsenal’s Concerns

Despite successfully eliminating Real Madrid, Arsenal were ultimately knocked out of the tournament by PSG in the semi-final. In response to the scheduling anomaly, Arsenal submitted a complaint to UEFA. According to Give Me Sport, UEFA officials have since deliberated on the issue, and there is a real possibility that a change to the current format has been agreed upon in principle.

The report suggests that UEFA decision-makers acknowledge the concerns raised by the Gunners and are open to reviewing the knockout-stage structure. Although no official confirmation has been released, early discussions indicate that the competition rules could be modified to ensure greater fairness in fixture scheduling for future editions.

(Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Potential Reforms Under Consideration

In addition to the issue of home advantage, the same report states that UEFA explored the idea of scrapping extra time in favour of proceeding directly to penalty shootouts during the knockout rounds. This would represent a significant change and could affect how clubs approach high-stakes matches.

With the Champions League format becoming increasingly demanding, clubs argue that tangible rewards must be provided for superior league-stage performance. The complaint lodged by Arsenal has amplified that message and brought attention to a wider concern among Europe’s top sides. If changes are indeed approved, it may set a precedent that reinforces the importance of the league phase and ensures fairness across the competition.

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