The UEFA executive committee has responded to the threat of a European Superliga (ESL) break by voting unanimously to sanction the new Champions League of 36 teams, sources told ESPN.
In a vote in Montreux, Switzerland, on Monday, the Executive Committee passed a resolution to expand the Champions League from its current 32-team format, with the reformed tournament set to begin at the start of the 2024-25 season.
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The change will cause each club to play 10 group games, instead of six, before advancing to a 16-team knockout system in the second half of the season.
Sources have told ESPN that Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi was one of the voters, with French champions not involved in the ESL plan.
UEFA had pushed to make the Champions League more profitable for participating clubs, but with 12 of the top European teams announcing their plans to form ESL on Sunday, it is unclear whether the new tournament will involve those trying to form its own independent competition.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin will have to speak publicly about the Champions League changes and the threat of a breakaway at 14:30 CET on Monday.