Euro clubs keen on giving Champions League berths to Europa League finalists

Europe's top soccer clubs are enthusiastic about giving automatic Champions League places to the Europa League finalists.

European Club Association teams responding to a survey about continental club competitions backed introducing the idea in 2015, the 200-member group said Tuesday.

Of 87 ECA members surveyed from 36 countries, 61 percent "would welcome" the idea. Clubs overwhelmingly want the Europa League, for lower-ranked teams and domestic cup winners, to survive alongside the elite Champions League, the ECA said.

The ECA is holding its biannual meeting in Qatar, and is using the visit to monitor preparations for the 2022 World Cup.