NYON: Europe’s biggest clubs continue to benefit from the Champions League after European governing body UEFA announced major increases in prize money for its club competitions.

The new system places more weight on club records rather than the strength of national television market pools.

Gross commercial revenues for competing in the Champions League, the Europa League, and the Super Cup is estimated at around €3.31bn.

Of the estimated gross amount of €3.25bn some €295m will be deducted to cover organisational costs relating to the competitions, and seven per cent (€227m) will be set aside for solidarity payments.

Group stage performance bonuses will be paid for each match: €2.7 million per win and €900,000 per draw. Undistributed amounts (€900,000 per draw) will be pooled and redistributed among the clubs playing in the group stage in amounts proportionate to their number of wins.

Clubs that qualify for the knockout stage can expect to receive €9.5 million for reaching the round of 16, while they would get €10.5 million for the quarter-finals, €12 million for the semi-finals, and €15 million for the final. The winners would pick up an additional €4 million.

Meanwhile, a new ranking will be introduced based on performances over a ten-year period. In addition to coefficient points accumulated during this period, this ranking includes bonus points for winning the Champions League, Champion Clubs’ Cup, Europa League, Uefa Cup, and the Cup Winners’ Cup.

On the basis of these parameters, a ranking has been established and the total amount of €585.05 million has been divided into ‘coefficient shares’, with each share worth €1.108 million. The lowest-ranked team will receive one share (€1.108 million). One share will be added to every rank and so the highest-ranked team will receive 32 shares (€35.46 million).

It changes a system that better rewarded clubs from the most valuable broadcasting markets, such as England and Italy, by giving them a larger share of those rights deals, known as ‘market pool’ money.

This means that clubs with prior success in the competition will be better rewarded. For example, reigning champions Real Madrid are top-ranked among the 32 teams for next season and will get 32 shares worth €35.46m.

Clubs will also receive a share of €217.1 million, which is distributed in accordance with the value of each national television market.

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