Many leagues could look very different within the next decade – and Europe look to South America for inspiration

Leagues across Europe are considering major changes to their structures as they strive to make their competitions more appealing throughout the season.

Omar Chaudhuri, Twenty First Group, says they can benefit from thinking laterally and draw inspiration from South America, for instance, where a number of leagues divide their seasons in two, giving matches greater significance.

Why it matters: With financial inequalities across Europe a key factor, many leagues are faced with challenges such as having a single dominant team, and they want to find new ways to maintain the interest of supporters and attract new ones.

The perspective: There is a clear appetite for change among many leagues but there are concerns about balancing the desire to innovate with the views of lifelong fans of competitions which are in many cases well over 100 years old.