Runners-Up from Europe's top leagues could receive direct entry into a revamped European Cup competition, Europe's soccer governing body UEFA said yesterday.

A proposal to allow runners-up into the competition without qualifying was one of several discussed at a meeting of a newly-formed "task force" to prevent the formation of a breakaway European Super League.

Under the current Champions' League set-up only the winners of the top seven ranked European leagues and the title holder receive direct entry into the competition while runners-up must play in a qualifying round.

"No decision has been made but allowing the runners-up direct entry without qualifying was brought up," said UEFA spokesman Guido Tognoni.

UEFA had floated the possibility of granting wild card entries to clubs which had displayed a high level of play over several years but failed to qualify for the league as champions or runners-up.

"The mood is very much against wild cards," said Tognoni. "The idea of wild cards was heavily disputed but the English and German leagues were heavily against them."

Earlier reports have had the European soccer body's "European Club Football 2000" group considering proposals to remodel the Champions' League into four groups of six clubs, with a possible expansion from 24 to 32 teams.

UEFA is expected to unveil its plans for a restructured Champions' League at an executive committee in Lisbon on October 6th and 7th.