THE European Super League is back on the table following a recent ruling by the European Court of Justice.
The court has today determined Fifa and Uefa acted against competition law when they blocked the formation of a European Super League in 2021.
Twelve of Europe's biggest clubs proposed the formation of a European Super League two years ago, but the proposal was met with a wave of fan backlash and the proposal was shut down.
Now, the tournament could be revived but English football fans may not need to be concerned as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his government have promised to stop clubs from joining new competitions that would kill off the domestic game.
Many European footballing giants, including Man Utd, have reaffirmed that they have no interest in joining the Super League.
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- By Henry Moore
Premier League slams new Super League proposal
The Premier League has rejected today's proposal for a new European Super League.
A statement read: "The Premier League notes today’s judgment in the European Court of Justice case involving the "European Superleague Company", FIFA and UEFA. This is a significant ruling and we will now fully examine its implications for the game.
"The ruling does not endorse the so-called "European Super League" and the Premier League continues to reject any such concept. Supporters are of vital importance to the game and they have time and again made clear their opposition to a "breakaway" competition that severs the link between domestic and European football.
"The Premier League reiterates its commitment to the clear principles of open competition that underpin the success of domestic and international club competitions.
"Football thrives on the competitiveness created by promotion and relegation, the annual merit-based qualification from domestic leagues and cups to international club competitions and the longstanding rivalries and rituals that come with weekends being reserved for domestic football."
- By Henry Moore
Are the Premier League teams involved?
As it stands, no the Premier League top six are not involved in this current iteration of the European Super League.
During the last ill-advised proposal, six of the Premier League’s biggest teams received huge backlash for attempting to break away from Uefa.
It seems like this time, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester City will not be getting involved.
- By Henry Moore
How will the new Super League work?
Bernd Reichart, the chief executive of A22, has confirmed the format of the “new” Super League, following the ECJ’s ruling this morning.
The new European Super League proposal features 64 teams, each in one of three tiers: Star, Gold and Blue.
Annual promotion and relegation will happen between each tier, this seemingly aims to address complaints of a lack of sporting fairness in previous proposals.
Clubs will play only 14 matches per season, with the star and gold tiers consisting of 16 teams each.
Each season will end with a knockout-style competition to determine which teams are promoted and relegated.
- By Henry Moore
Manchester United rejects new Super League
Manchester United have rejected the latest Super League proposal.
The club said: “Our position has NOT changed.
“We remain fully committed to participation in UEFA competitions, and to positive cooperation with UEFA, the Premier League, and fellow clubs through the ECA on the continued development of the European game”.
- By Henry Moore
Bayern Munich reject the new Super League
German giants Bayern Munich have rejected A22's latest bid to launch the European Super League.
“It’s very clear: the door for the Super League at FC Bayern remains closed.
“Such a competition would represent an attack on the importance of domestic leagues and the statics of European football”, club CEO Dreesen says, reports Fabrizio Romano.
- By Henry Moore
What have the courts said?
The European Court of Justice today ruled Uefa and Fifa's action regarding the European Super League "unlawful."
The Court said: “The Fifa and Uefa rules making any new interclub football project subject to their prior approval, such as the Super League, and prohibiting clubs and players from playing in those competitions are unlawful.
“There is no framework for the Fifa and Uefa rules ensuring that they are transparent, objective, non-discriminatory and proportionate.
“Similarly the rules giving Fifa and Uefa exclusive control over the commercial exploitation of the rights related to those competitions are such as to restrict competition, given their importance for the media, consumers and television viewers in the European Union.
“The Court observes that the organisation of interclub football competitions and the exploitation of the media rights are quite evidently economic activities.
“They must therefore comply with the competition rules and respect the freedoms of movement, even though the economic pursuit of sport has certain specific characteristics, such as the existence of associations having certain regulatory and control powers and the power to impose sanctions.”
- By Henry Moore
Real Madrid chief responds to new European Super League
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has welcomed today's decision and the return of the European Super League.
He said: “From Real Madrid we welcome with great satisfaction the decision taken by the Court of Justice of the European Union, which is responsible for guaranteeing our principles, values and freedoms. In the coming days we will carefully study the scope of this resolution, but I do anticipate two conclusions of great historical significance.
“First of all, that European club football is not and will never be a monopoly again. And secondly, that from today the clubs will be the owners of their destiny. Clubs see fully recognized our right to propose and promote European competitions that modernize our sport and attract fans from all over the world. In short, today the Europe of freedoms has triumphed again and today soccer and its fans have also triumphed.
“Faced with the pressures we have received for more than two years, law, reason and freedom are imposed today. And for this reason, Real Madrid will continue to work for the sake of football.
“Just as almost seventy years ago we took a fundamental step in the history of soccer with the creation of the European Cup, today we again have the duty and responsibility to give European football the new impetus it needs so much. And for this, we will continue to defend a modern project, fully compatible with national competitions, open to all, based on sporting merit and that will effectively impose respect for financial fair play. A project that will bring economic sustainability for all clubs and that above all will protect the players and excite fans around the world.
“We will do it despite the campaigns we have suffered and that, without a doubt, will intensify from today. But no one said that ending a monopoly after so many decades was simple.
“We are facing the great opportunity to improve European club football. A football at the height of the 21st century, with a transparent governance, that knows how to live with new technologies and that once again provokes the passion and emotion that fans really need.
“Let me tell the European clubs that we are facing the beginning of a new time in which we can work in freedom from constructive dialogue, without threats, without acting against anything or anyone and with the aim of innovating and modernizing football to continue nurturing the passion of the fans.
“From today, the present and future of European football are finally in the hands of clubs, players and their fans. Our destiny belongs to us and we have a great responsibility before us.
“This day will mark a before and after. It is a great day for the history of football and for the history of sport”.
- By Henry Moore
New ESL will be free to watch
According to A22, the new European Super League would be free for fans to watch.
A22 said: “The proposal also includes innovative plans to launch the world’s leading direct-to-fan sports streaming platform [called Unify], where billions of fans would be able to watch live all Super League matches for free”.
- By Henry Moore
No clubs confirmed to be taking part
When asked which clubs are interested in the proposal, Bernd Reichart, the chief executive of A22, refused to comment.
Outside of Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, no clubs have indicated they would be willing to join A22's proposed Super League.
This could imply that, unlike last time, the Premier League top six could stay well clear of the new European Super League.
- By Henry Moore
Fans slam new proposal
Fans have taken to X/Twitter to express their anger at today's ruling.
One supporter reacted to the court ruling saying: "RIP football as we know it 😭"
Another added: "Football is about to be ruined then…"
A third wrote: "We the fans still don't want that shoddy league."
- By Henry Moore
What is the difference between the new European Super League and the Champions League?
A22 has been keen to differentiate its new European Super League from the updated Champions League set to launch in 2024.
The organisation has released an image of the differences between the two tournaments:
Credit: A22 - By Henry Moore
Football Supporters Association slams new Super League proposal
The FSA has slammed today's news that the European Super League will be making a return.
You can read its full statement below:
- By Henry Moore
Barcelona release statement
FC Barcelona have welcomed today's decision to deem Uefa and Fifa's actions "unlawful".
A statement from the club said: “FC Barcelona wishes to express its satisfaction with the sentence of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) assessing the Super League project as proposed by A22 Sports.
“As one of the clubs driving the Super League project, FC Barcelona feels that the sentence paves the way for a new elite level football competition in Europe by opposing the monopoly over the football world, and wishes to initiate new discussions as to the path that European competitions should take in the future.
“Since it was founded in 1899, FC Barcelona has always been a pioneering club in the world of sport, leading the drive towards more professionalised structures both on a domestic and international scale, with regard to both men’s and women’s competitions, in a variety of sports and from different social concerns.
“Hence, as it has been maintaining in recent years, the club feels that the medium-term sustainability of European football entails the need create a concept along the lines of the Super League proposed by A22. A system of competition that will address such issues as fixture overload and the excessive number of games between national teams, that will work towards regulation of financial fair play among participating teams, and that will put local and international players and supporters at the centre.
“This system must respect the functions and sustainability of domestic competitions and should be a meritocracy that is primarily based on results on the pitch.
“In a year when the club is celebrating its 125th anniversary, Barça wishes to continue to offer its experience and knowledge of different sports to propose solutions for current issues in elite sport.
“That is why it is declaring its support for the Super League promoted by A22 and encourages constructive debate among both domestic and international football bodies, which have now been endorsed by today’s sentence by the Court of Justice of the European Union. The foregoing is all subject to a complete reading of the sentence.”
- By Henry Moore
New Super League format confirmed
Bernd Reichart, the chief executive of A22, has confirmed the format of the "new" Super League, following the ECJ's ruling this morning.
The new European Super League proposal features 64 teams, each in one of three tiers: Star, Gold and Blue.
Annual promotion and relegation will happen between each tier, this seemingly aims to address complaints of a lack of sporting fairness in previous proposals.
Clubs will play only 14 matches per season, with the star and gold tiers consisting of 16 teams each.
Each season will end with a knockout-style competition to determine which teams are promoted and relegated.
- By Henry Moore
UEFA and Fifa lose Super League ruling
Following a landmark European Court of Justice ruling, the so-called European Super League could be back.
It was ruled that Uefa and Fifa acted “unlawfully” when they blocked the tournament in 2021.
Following the decision, new plans for an updated Super League were released.
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