UEFA wants Europe's wealthiest clubs to vote themselves a pay cut from Champions League revenues.
European football's governing body made the announcement yesterday when it revealed what clubs got in a e585 million payout from television and marketing deals for the competition last season.
European champions Manchester United got the most – e43 million – and finalist Chelsea took home e36 million. England was the best rewarded country with combined earnings of e129 million once the share of Liverpool and Arsenal was added.
The numbers will fuel the debate that an elite group of wealthy clubs is making European football uncompetitive.
"We are sensitive to this criticism of the rich clubs getting richer," UEFA spokesman William Gaillard said. "We are under some pressure.
"There have been statements by members of the European Parliament who would like to see a more equal distribution of revenue among clubs."
Gaillard said the issue will be put before the European Professional Football Strategy Council, a UEFA-backed panel of representatives from clubs, leagues, football associations and players' unions.
"We plan to open up a dialogue," Gaillard said. "Our president Michel Platini believes in consensus and we have an excellent tool for that with our strategy council."
Change could not happen until 2012 when existing television deals and agreements on the Champions League format expire.
The Champions League payout rewarded 32 clubs from 15 countries who took part in the group stage and subsequent knockout rounds with appearance fees and prize money for matches and points won. The figures don't include ticket sales.
Teams which played in a big media market – such as England – got a bigger share of the television income.
Italian side Roma finished third in the money table with e29 million despite only reaching the quarter-final stage.
Bottom of the elite rankings was Dynamo Kiev of Ukraine with e5.9 million after losing all six of its matches.
Figures for the UEFA Cup make clear the financial penalty for clubs who fail to make the Champions League.
The UEFA Cup was worth just e37 million in total.
German powerhouse Bayern Munich was a Champions League winner in 2001 but finished fourth in the 2006-07 Bundesliga. Bayern made e4.5 million from reaching the UEFA Cup semi-final stage.
UEFA Cup winner Zenit St. Petersburg of Russia earned e5 million from the competition.
Beaten finalists Glasgow Rangers, which benefited from lucrative British television deals, got e5.1million. It had already earned e9.7 million from its six Champions League group games.