The organisers behind the European Super League have proposed a new modified format with no permanent members, based on sporting performances in domestic leagues and would feature 60 to 80 teams.
A22 Sports Management is the company promoting a revamped format for the controversial European Super League (ESL). The company pushed for a 12-club ESL proposal in 2021 that received a lot of criticism and was quickly put to bed.
A22 stated that the new league would be based on sporting performances with no permanent members and team’s would be guaranteed a minimum of 14 matches per season.
A22 was established to assist with the creation of the ESL and nearly 50 European clubs have been consulted about the new proposal since October 2021.
Reported by The Guardian, A22’s chief executive, Bernd Reichart explained: “The foundations of European football are in danger of collapsing. 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 side-lines 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 the opposition.”
A22 has now officially challenged UEFA and FIFA’s right to block the formation of the ESL and sanction the competing clubs in the courts.
Reichart went on to continue that the ESL would fundamentally be an “open competition” and domestic leagues would remain as the “foundation” of the game as qualification will be granted to teams through their performances in their domestic leagues and at a national level.
According to Reichart, the new Super League would generate new revenues to support the entire pyramid. He explained that clubs should only spend a certain percentage of their annual revenue on player salaries and transfers. “Club spending must be based solely on the funds generated and not on competitively distorting capital injections,” he explained.
The initial plans for the ESL in 2021 contained only 20 teams – three unnamed clubs and 12 founding members: Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham, Juventus, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, and Barcelona – who would all permanently take part in the competition.
The initial plans rapidly collapsed after the six Premier League clubs all pulled out of the project within 48 hours following widespread criticism. However, Juventus, Real Madrid, and Barcelona all remain committed to the concept.
Back in December, UEFA and FIFA received strong support in their bid to block the creation of a European Super League.
It’s now been claimed that UEFA and FIFA were breaking competition law by threatening to sanction clubs and players who joined a breakaway league. A final ruling will be made by a 150-member Grand Chamber in spring.
We can all most likely remember the fierce criticism the original ESL received from the media, pundits and us supporters – time will soon reveal how well received the revamped ESL will be.
For more up to date news plus the top discounts & sales available – join our community at The Hoxton Trend.
