New proposals have been revealed for the formation of a European Super League, one which would include multiple divisions and places earned on merit.
European football was rocked in 2021 when 12 of the continent’s leading clubs – including each of the Premier League’s ‘Big Six’ – announced plans for a breakaway competition. The plans were greeted with widespread condemnation and fan protests, with the clubs involved criticised for their involvement.
The initials plans would have included guaranteed entry for the founder clubs and threatened the existence of both the Champions League and domestic divisions. Nine of the 12 teams hastily withdrew their interest following the backlash, with several making formal apologies.
However, plans for a breakaway have not disappeared and the chief executive of A22, a company formed to assist with the creation of the Super League, has revealed fresh ideas for the competition.
Bernd Reichart has told German newspaper Die Welt that the proposals could include up to 80 teams, multiple divisions, and no permanent members.
“The foundations of European football are in danger of collapsing,” Reichart said, as per Sky Sports.
“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.”
Reichart believes a guarantee of at least 14 fixtures for competing sides could stabilise revenues and A22 have challenged UEFA and FIFA’s right to block the formation of the Super League and sanction the competing clubs in the courts.
La Liga chief, Javier Tebas, has hit back at the proposals and says the Super League is a ‘selfish, elitist and greed-driven project.’
“The Super League is the wolf in the story of Little Red Riding Hood,” Tebas said on Twitter.
“It is disguising itself as an open and meritocratic competition, but underneath there is still the same selfish, elitist and greed-driven project. Don’t let their tales fool you.”
