Johansson wants Premiership quartet in CL
Friday, 3 November 2006 09:26UEFA president Lennart Johansson has pledged to maintain four Premiership teams in the Champions League if he is re-elected for a fifth and final term of office.
Johansson, 77 next week, is standing against Michel Platini in the election on January 26.
Platini wants to limit each country to having a maximum of three teams in the Champions League but Johansson promised to maintain four teams from England, Spain and Italy.
However, Johansson accepted the income from the tournament perpetuated divisions within domestic leagues and that he was in favour of redistributing money from Europe's top club competition so even clubs who do not qualify receive some benefits.
'The five big countries in Europe give us the main part of our income so it makes sense that they benefit the most,' said Johansson.
'I am in favour of redistribution of money to other members of the league, not only the three or four at the top.
'They also contribute to the competition in that they help the top clubs be fit for the Champions League.'
