No Champions League game should leave Europe, says UEFA president Cerefin

UEFA President Aleksander Cerefin has shut down rumors that the governing body may withdraw European Champions League matches.

News reports have appeared this week suggesting that the UEFA Executive Committee is exploring options to stage marquee group stage fixtures in neutral territory, such as the USA, China and the Middle East .

These proposals would come on the heels of a radical overhaul of the competition from 2024, which would see the group stage replaced by a league format.

But plans to go further in matches are bogus, according to Cerefin, who dismissed those suggestions when asked at a press conference on Wednesday.

"With all due respect to the media, it's impossible to imagine what kind of news can get out there," he said. "We never discussed this.

"But suddenly you can read in some media that it's going to happen, even though it was never mentioned. Go ask UEFA directly.

"I would be aware if there were talks about the possibility of playing Champions League games outside of Europe, and I don't know."

Real Madrid are the Champions League titleholders after overtaking Liverpool at the end of last season.