Skip to main content

UEFA weighs changes to Champions League seeding

By WTOP Staff

GRAHAM DUNBAR
AP Sports Writer

NYON, Switzerland (AP) — UEFA is looking to change how Champions League clubs are seeded, though coaching adviser Alex Ferguson thinks that’s not important.

“I don’t necessarily think the seeding plays a great part,” said Ferguson, a two-time Champions League winner with Manchester United.

He spoke Thursday after chairing a two-day UEFA meeting of top club coaches, who were told the seeding format could change next season.

One option UEFA will consider is automatically putting the winners of the highest-ranked leagues and the Champions League title holder among the top-seeded teams.

Currently, UEFA ranks clubs over five years of competition results — leaving national champions Manchester City, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain among No. 2-seeded teams.

In last week’s draw, Man City was drawn into a group with Bundesliga winner Bayern Munich, and Juventus got Spanish champion Atletico Madrid. PSG’s group includes top-seeded Barcelona.

The eight clubs in Pot 1 included Arsenal and FC Porto, who placed fourth and third in their respective leagues last season. They are seeded based on consistency despite neither reaching the Champions League semifinals in the past five seasons.

Still, Ferguson believes the depth of some groups in this season’s draw means there is little difference in quality.

“You take what you get and your performance is the most important thing,” said Ferguson, who led former clubs Aberdeen and Man United to win a combined four European club competitions. “Does it matter if one is the top seed or second seed or third seed?”

Ferguson’s opposition to change was backed by Juergen Klopp, whose Borussia Dortmund team is still only seeded second after being Champions League runner-up in 2013.

Dortmund was only seeded fourth in 2012-13 when, as Bundesliga champion, it won a group ahead of Real Madrid, Ajax and Man City.

“It’s not impossible,” Klopp told The Associated Press. “If you are in the wrong (seeding) group, it’s your own responsibility. You have not had enough success in the last season.”

Ferguson’s former club would have been a top-seeded team but it’s missing from the Champions League for the first time since the 1995-96 season.

Now coached by Louis van Gaal, Man United led a flurry of transfer activity across Europe before the trading period closed Monday.

“Certainly it’s amazing, the amount of money spent nowadays,” said Ferguson, who broke the English record in 2001 by spending 28 million pounds to bring Argentina midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron from Lazio.

“My personal opinion is that it’s never going to change, the world is progressing, and transfer fees with it, and I don’t know if there’ll be an end to it. Fortunately, I’m not at the hub of it nowadays,” he said.

The annual coaches’ seminar at UEFA was also attended by Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti, Bayern’s Pep Guardiola, Chelsea’s Jose Mourinho and Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger.

Ferguson led discussions on ideas to change the game, including the “sin-bin” favored by UEFA President Michel Platini. Football could borrow from hockey and send players temporarily to the sidelines for certain offenses which do not merit a red card.

“We couldn’t get to an agreement on it because it’s such a controversial decision to change,” said Fegurson, who favors the punishment for players who simulate diving. “From UEFA’s point of view it is something they are looking at.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote