European clubs will get more money from the Champions League next season - even if they fail to qualify for the lucrative competition.

UEFA said yesterday it would give at least e55 million ($75 million) to share among non-qualifying clubs in countries with at least one representative in the 32-team group stage of the Champions League. The money has to be spent on training young players.

Seventeen of 53 European football nations had teams in this season's competition, including Belarus and Cyprus for the first time.

The payments represent 6.5 per cent of the television and marketing money generated by the Champions League - a rise from 5 per cent this season when at least e31.2 million ($42.3 million) was allocated.

"We have always insisted that a percentage of the revenues generated by the Champions League be redistributed, via the principle of solidarity, back to those clubs that are not directly participating," UEFA president Michel Platini said in a statement.

The higher shares were agreed in talks between UEFA and the European Club Association, which also gets a share of Champions League revenues.

"We represent 137 clubs from all over Europe, so we are extremely pleased that not only the top ones will share the success," ECA Chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said.

UEFA expects to share a further e12 million ($16.3 million) among countries which don't have a team among the top 32.

The payments are likely to be repeated in the following two seasons as UEFA is completing television and commercial deals for the Champions League from 2009-12.

The rewards for the 32 clubs reaching the group phase, and the 16 teams into the knock-out stage, are also much greater. They will share at least e585 million ($792 million) in commercial revenue this season.

The winner of this season's competition is set to earn around e20 million in prize money and a further e10-20 million share of television receipts from UEFA. Sales of tickets and merchandise to fans will also be sources of extra revenue.