(Reuters) - A proposal to give captive places to teams in the Champions League was about providing "stability" and aimed at benefiting clubs from outside the major leagues, the head of the association representing Europe's biggest clubs said on Thursday.
European Club Association (ECA) chairman Andrea Agnelli blamed criticism of the proposal on "protectionism" among Europe's big five leagues and added: "This reform is not really about the big clubs. This reform is about Europe."
