MrJibbles Posted September 25, 2008 Report Share Posted September 25, 2008 Franz Beckenbauer said today that the 2016 European Championship finals will feature 24 teams, meaning that the next championships, in Poland and Ukraine in 2012, will be the last in the current 16-team format. Beckenbauer, who is the vice-chairman of Uefa's development and technical assistance committee, said an official announcement will be made tomorrow. "It has been agreed," said Beckenbauer. "There are will be several reasons why this should happen. And the competition will not lose quality as a result."Spain won this year's tournament in Austria and Switzerland, qualifying from one of four four-team groups before progressing through a quarter- and semi-final to defeat Germany in the final. The new format will feature six groups of four, with the top two teams in each group being joined by the four best runner-ups in an additional knock-out round before the quarter-finals.The expansion was agreed on the first day of a two-day meeting of Uefa's executive committee in Bordeaux and the decision means that nearly half of Uefa's 53 member states will qualify for the finals.Reports today also suggest that the Uefa Cup will be renamed the Uefa European-League from the 2009-10 season. The Croatian Football Federation have been fined £14,920 for the racist behaviour of some of their supporters in the World Cup qualifier against England earlier this month. England striker Emile Heskey was subjected to monkey chants from a small section of the crowd at the Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb after being booked during the 4-1 victory for Fabio Capello's side.The Football Association had asked Fifa to investigate the incident and the world governing body have today issued the fine. "Racism has no place in football," a statement read. "Fifa is determined to continue broadcasting this message around the globe and deploying all of the means at its disposal to eliminate this form of discrimination."It is the second time in a matter of months Croatian fans have been found guilty of racist behaviour, with Fifa issuing a small fine during Euro 2008 following chants during their quarter-final against Turkey. Fifa's disciplinary committee have now warned the Croatian Federation further incidents could result in "more severe sanctions"."The Fifa disciplinary committee has fined the Croatia Football Federation CHF 30,000 (£14,920) for the racist behaviour of some of their supporters at the September 10 2008 Croatia v England preliminary competition match of the 2010 Fifa World Cup."The Croatian Football Federation was found guilty of a violation of article 58, paragraph 2 of the Fifa disciplinary code, and received a warning regarding its future conduct according to article 13. Further infringements of article 58 would lead to more severe sanctions by the Fifa disciplinary committee."See now this is a joke! SMH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ryan Posted September 25, 2008 Report Share Posted September 25, 2008 extending the euros = sick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Cipher Posted September 25, 2008 Report Share Posted September 25, 2008 f*ck sake manWill be some flopSame way how they f*cked up the champions league.and lol @ our fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2binspired Posted September 25, 2008 Report Share Posted September 25, 2008 lol at man utd getting fined more for getting 7 yellow cards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HangTheDJ Posted September 25, 2008 Report Share Posted September 25, 2008 more football can only be a good thingand smh at that fine, are they on crack?although, 15k to croatian fa is probably alot more to them than it would be to our fa, but stillif they cant afford a big fine, shudda just docked them points or made them play behind closed doors Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Planet Posted September 25, 2008 Report Share Posted September 25, 2008 The move is just for more television money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Cipher Posted September 25, 2008 Report Share Posted September 25, 2008 more football can only be a good thingYou think so?In principle yeabut IMO its the same thing they did when turning the European Cup into the Champions LeaugeIts sh*t Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reuben Posted September 25, 2008 Report Share Posted September 25, 2008 what makes the euros sick with 16 teams is big teams have to play each other soonerexpanding it to 24 teams is gonna introduce more mediocre teams Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lieutenant Posted September 25, 2008 Report Share Posted September 25, 2008 what makes the euros sick with 16 teams is big teams have to play each other soonerexpanding it to 24 teams is gonna introduce more mediocre teams c/s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Q Posted September 25, 2008 Report Share Posted September 25, 2008 the fine is a f*ck*ng joke. considering its happened before Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flojo Posted September 25, 2008 Report Share Posted September 25, 2008 Expanding the Euro's gives certain teams a much better opportunity to experience a major championship which is a good thing I suppose. Ryan Giggs is pissed this didn't come into practice 10 years ago.The fine us an absolute pisstake, f*ck FIFA & UEFA their full of sh*t. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Totty Posted September 25, 2008 Report Share Posted September 25, 2008 lol at man utd getting fined more for getting 7 yellow cards.c/ssmh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BATTY BOY BUM BANDIT Posted September 26, 2008 Report Share Posted September 26, 2008 More teams equals more fixtures which equals more matches which equals more games on tv and so on and so on.Cant currently see the downside of it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Q Posted September 26, 2008 Report Share Posted September 26, 2008 cant think of 8 good enough teams that missed out this yeartruth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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cant think of 8 good enough teams that missed out this year
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Mr Q
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