New expanded 80-team, multi-divisional European Super League plans proposed by competition organisers
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Updated 09/02/2023 at 14:35 GMT
The European Super League is back on the agenda after organisers revealed new proposals for an expanded version of the competition that would include multiple divisions and as many as 80 teams with no permanent members. Original plans from 2021 were widely criticised by fans and clubs alike, which led to many of the clubs involved withdrawing their interest.
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Plans are in place for a revamped version of the previously-failed European Super League, featuring up to 80 teams.
Original proposals for the competition were announced in 2021 to widespread criticism and protests, leading to many of the clubs involved withdrawing their interest.
However, the competition organisers have come up with new proposals, suggesting a multi-division competition featuring 60 to 80 teams, based on sporting performance with no permanent members, and a minimum of 14 games per club each season.
The announcement was made by A22, a company set up to work in tandem with the creation of the Super League, who claim nearly 50 clubs across the continent have been consulted over the proposals.
"The foundations of European football are in danger of collapsing,” A22 chief executive Bernd Reichart told the German newspaper Die Welt.
“It’s time for a change. It is the clubs that bear the entrepreneurial risk in football. But when important decisions are at stake, they are too often forced to sit idly by on the sidelines as the sporting and financial foundations crumble around them.
“Our talks have also made it clear that clubs often find it impossible to speak out publicly against a system that uses the threat of sanctions to thwart opposition.
“Our dialogue was open, honest, constructive and resulted in clear ideas about what changes are needed and how they could be implemented. There is a lot to do and we will continue our dialogue.”
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European Super League 'not even an idea', say European Club Association
The original Super League plans announced in April 2021 featured six Premier League teams: Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. They were joined by AC Milan, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus and Real Madrid as founder members.
However, in the face of near-universal condemnation, all teams withdrew from the planned competition, with the exception of Barcelona, Juventus and Real Madrid, leading to the proposals collapsing.
The European Club Association (ECA) released the following statement in response to Thursday's announcement
“ECA notes the latest dispatch from A22's alternative reality,” began the statement.
“However, in the real world, this rehashed idea has already been proposed, discussed and comprehensively rejected by all stakeholders in 2019.
“This is just another deliberately distorted and misleading attempt to de-stabilise the constructive work currently taking place between football's real stakeholders to move things forward in the overall best interests of the European club game.
“As the sole organisation recognised by FIFA and UEFA representing clubs at European and international level, and the only body through which clubs have genuine representation in their decision-making, ECA reiterates its long-standing opposition to the European Super League and any breakaway project.
“A great amount of progress and positive change has been achieved by ECA in recent years in collaborative partnership with all football stakeholders – UEFA, FIFA and the confederations, national associations, leagues, fans, players and clubs of all sizes – working for the benefit of the entire European football ecosystem.
“From 2024 more clubs from more countries will participate in European men’s club competitions every season, growing the passion of European football and greatly increasing the amount of revenue being shared. Significant progress can be seen across other aspects of the game from women’s football, youth and academy development, finance and regulation to sustainability and social impact.
“This is what real change looks like. We have moved on, when will A22?”
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