London, Sept 20: Italian clubs were not the only ones with something to celebrate this week. For while all four series representatives in the Champions League began this season's competition proper with victories, decisions taken by the men in suits in meeting rooms far removed from the passion in the stadiums also reflected well on the European game.

Two decisions in particular appear to be spot on -- last year's plan to reduce the size of the champions league and this week's ruling against introducing a seeding system for November's Euro 2004 playoffs.
There has been plenty of debate over the last year after UEFA decided to streamline the Champions League from the start of this season.
Many of Europe's top clubs were, and still are, unhappy with the reduced income they will receive from playing fewer matches, but the fact remained that the champions league had become far too bloated with the finalists appearing in their 17th match in the competition.
Adding an extra knockout round involving the 16 qualifiers from the first group phase and losing the second group phase means that finalists will be playing their 13th match of the competition come the final in Gelsenkirchen next May. Bureau Report