Any attempt to remove the Champions League from next season's calendar would run the risk of creating a European Super League, according to the former Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher.
With the resumption of domestic leagues seen as the priority once it is deemed safe to play football again during the coronavirus crisis, it has been suggested that cup competitions could be eliminated for a period of time.
That could include the remainder of the Champions League and Europa League this season, and possibly in a 2020/21 which may start much later than usual.
And Fletcher, who won the Champions League with United in 2008, says that could be be fraught with issues going forward.
“You can speculate about cup competitions and things like that but the biggest thing for me is the Premier League, and the leagues have to be finished," the Scot told BBC Radio Five Live .
“Even the knock on effect of that for the Champions League next season, forget about that, these are easier things to delay and cancel and postpone.
“When you’re 30 games into a Premier League season, it’s very difficult not to see it out.
“It will all come down to money, as everything does. The powers that be, the money involved, sponsorship deals.
“The Champions League are not going to just accept that, there is no way they are going to accept that.
“The powerful clubs, there will be breakaways and even more of a push towards breakaway leagues on the back of it - 100 per cent.
“If you turned around to the Champions League and said it’s not happening, they will propose a breakaway and invite the teams that they want.
“It may actually be an excuse to get what they want anyway. They want that, a breakaway league.
“This may be the perfect opportunity to get that and go ‘we’re doing this next season if you want to cancel the Champions League next season, who’s in?’”
