The G14 group wants a greater say in how football is run

At the weekend the G14 group of clubs denied a media report they wanted to form a breakaway competition.

"Uefa will not stand in the way of those who want to leave the family - (which also means the domestic competitions)," said Uefa.

"You cannot 'pick and choose'," the statement added, which did not specifically name the G14.

The G14 group represents 18 of the world's richest clubs, including Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal.

G14 general manager Thomas Kurth said: "This attack on G-14 does not mean the issues which we are fighting for will go away.

"At the moment, the rules of the game are written by the federations, for the federations. Professional clubs have no direct representation and that needs to change.

"These threats are simply an attempt to defend the position of the federations and not deal openly with the real bones of contention such as representation, player insurance and compensation."

While denying they want to form a breakaway rival tournament, Europe's biggest clubs do want the format of the Champions League changed to increase the number of games.

A 2003 revamp led to more knockout ties but fewer games overall and G14 has been unhappy over the revenue loss.

"We are not talking about doubling the number of games, it may be adding just one or two," Barcelona vice-president Ferran Soriano told BBC Sport.

"We have to have the opportunity to participate in the final decision."

Fifa president Sepp Blatter, who attended the Uefa Congress in Budapest where the statement was released, thanked Europe's governing body for its support over the Charleroi court case.

Belgian club Charleroi, backed by G14, are taking world governing body Fifa to court, claiming compensation over a player injured in an international match.

Moroccan Abdelmajid Oulmers was out for eight months after playing against Burkina Faso in November 2004.

G14 wants the regulations surrounding the compulsory release of players for international matches changed and clubs to be compensated if players are injured playing for their countries.

"Everything that happens in European football has an influence on global football," said Blatter.

"Can you conceive football without the national teams or the national associations?

"It would mean the collapse of the whole pyramid of football because of the elitism of a few."