Geneva, Sept. 10 -- A revolt by European clubs has foiled plans by their wealthiest counterparts to turn the Champions League into a largely closed competition.

Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli and his European Club Association leadership team has been forced to reset their expectations after failing to win support for a plan to steer the lucrative competition even more in favor of an elite group of elite teams.

Lower-ranking clubs made their voices heard in tense private meetings across Europe, suppressing a radical Champions League reinvention from 2024 that would have had profound implications for the intrigue of domestic competitions by largely severing qualification pathways but placating teams with more placed in a new third-tier ...