^LAUSANNE. Swi tzeriand. Dec 11: Joseph Blatter criticised UEFA's new European Cup format on Friday, saying it was unfair to exclude small countries, reports ^The FIFA secretary general believes the action by Europe's governing body is "undemocratic."

This has bothered us a tot."

Blatter told Swiss paper Le Nouveau Quotidien. 'As far as FIFA is concerned, this system goes exactly against the -development of football which we have always advocated.

"UEFA is helping the rich clubs become richer, and the iJoor. poorer. If young people no longer identify with their clubs which are deprived of international competition, it will lead to the failure of FIFA's policy of democratisatlon."

Last week. UEFA president Lennart Johansson unveiled the new league, which from next season will automatically exclude half of the 48 champion clubs from the prestigious Eu-. ropean Cup.

The top seven clubs classed by UEFA’s and the defending champions automatically go through to the champions league. Those ranked between nine and 24 play- a qualifying round for the other eight places in the champions league, split into four groups of four.

Those teams ranked 25 to 48 would compete in the less glamorous UEFA Cup.

Johahnson claimed "market forces, sponsors and television.' required a change in format.

But Wales and Ireland have already protested and Blatter added. "I don’t know if all the federations will accept this decision without flinching."