Platini postpones decision

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Platini on Thursday unveiled his plans to reserve four places in the group phase of Europe's top club competition for domestic cup winners from 2009.

He told a media briefing: "We presented this to the strategy council and some members did not view the entrance of the cup winners very favourably. The leagues have asked for some time out and have asked whether it will be possible to delay by a month the decision of the executive committee."

A final decision had been due to be taken by UEFA's executive committee on September 27 but clubs' and leagues' representatives asked for more time to present other proposals.

Under Platini's plan, England, Spain and Italy would have three teams qualifying automatically for the Champions League group stage via their domestic league and their cup winners entering a parallel qualifying competition.

Currently each have the top two teams going straight into the group stage and the next two going through a qualifying round.

Platini presented his proposals in Monaco to the new Professional Football Strategy Council, made up of representatives of UEFA, the clubs, the leagues and players' unions.

He added: "We are not changing the format of the Champions League, there is no question of that.

"There are lots of advantages in the current system but under the new system six more countries will be represented in the Champions League and we will go from nine champions to 16.

"Those who win should play rather than those who are richer or have better media rights. It will also mean a very significant enhancement of the domestic cups."