  The paper investigates the qualification for the UEFA Champions League, the
most prestigious club competition in European football with respect to the
theoretical property of strategy-proofness. We find that in three seasons
(2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18), the UEFA Europa League titleholder might have been
better off by losing its match against the Champions League titleholder in
their domestic championship. A straightforward solution is suggested in order
to avoid the occurrence of this paradox. The use of an incentive compatible
rule would have a real effect on the qualification in these three seasons of
the UEFA Champions League.
