A22 Sports Management is pushing for a reformed European Super League following a court decision on the planned competiton.
Prior to the court decision, the European Super League was originally planned to contain 20 teams which will consist of 12 founding members and three unnamed clubs who were expected to join later, including five clubs who would have qualified annually based on their domestic achievements.
The Premier League big six Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham supported the move which was greeted with widespread condemnation by fans and other European football bodies.
Despite the widespread condemnation and opposition to the elite league that was originally planned to be made up of selected big teams in Europe with no relegation or promotion, we understand Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus, however, are still pushing for the realisation of the European Super League.
In December, FIFA and UEFA attempted to block and stifle plans by A22 to proceed with the idea of bringing to reality the European Super League, and were backed up by the European Court of Justice.
The European Court of Justice disputed the notion that UEFA and FIFA were at risk of breaking EU competition law by trying to block the formation of European Super League.
The European Court of Justice argued that FIFA and UEFA rules were not at loggerheads with EU competition law.
A reformed European Super League birthed
Plans to reform the European Super League has been birthed by A22 following December ruling by the court that UEFA should allow rival competitions. The new ESL would contain 60 to 80 teams, each guaranteed a minimum of 14 matches per season and continue to play in their domestic leagues.
Despite the proposed reforms, the European Club Association (ECA) and other stakeholders in European club competition are still at loggerheads with plans to revamp the beleaguered competition.
Paris St-Germain president and Chairman of ECA Nasser Al-Khelaifi said A22 is living in an “alternative reality”.
It added that “in the real world, this rehashed idea has already been proposed, discussed and comprehensively rejected by all stakeholders in 2019”.
The ECA reiterated its “long-standing opposition” to the ESL and any breakaway project, while highlighting the progress being made with all football stakeholders … working for the benefit of the entire European football ecosystem.
Proposed changes to UEFA Champions League
The major bond of contention is that the European Super League will rival the Champions League, while boosting the finances of few elite clubs to the detriment of smaller clubs.
Meanwhile, changes in Champions League was approved by UEFA last year. The 2024-25 edition of the competiton will feature four more teams from the original 32 teams.
The new format will see the initial phase contain one league table including all teams.
Each will play eight group-stage games against different opponents, with four home ties and four away.
The top eight will go through to the knockout stage, while those from ninth to 24th will compete in a two-legged play-off to progress.
Will the European Super League be realised?
European Court of Justice gave a somewhat controversial but dicey judgement on the European Super League last December. While they urge UEFA to allow rival competitons, they also ruled that the European football governing body can block rival competitons from entering its own competition.
This is a dicey ruling. Domestic leagues are under the firm control of UEFA. Hence, those pushing for the European Super League may come into collisions with UEFA on their domestic league status.
For now, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Juventus are the three clubs behind the ESL and are reportedly moved by the fact that the Premier League has dominated other major leagues in Europe.
