‘Wolf disguised as a granny’ Barcelona and Real Madrid backed New European Super League Plans Announced as a replacement of UCL
Is The European Super League really here to stay?
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Real Madrid president and the European Super league: a love story(Image via twitter)
Three of Europe’s biggest football clubs, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus, have joined forces to create the “New European Super League” to replace the Champions League. A22, which ESL’s sister company based in Madrid, made the announcement Thursday in a European newspaper.
The ‘rebels’ have reportedly contacted more than 50 clubs in their pursuit of creating a multi-division competition with 60 to 80 teams and a minimum of 14 games per club, per season.
The changes in the ‘New European Super League’
The composition of this original 60–80 team remains unknown, as does the process by which the new club replaces the old one. The original ESL has faced criticism for offering permanent memberships to founding clubs (including six Premier League clubs) in 2021.
Javier Tebas, the president of La Liga, quickly responded to the announcement with a tweet: “The Super League is the wolf in disguise, trying to fool European football, but its nose and teeth give it away. Four divisions in Europe? Of course, with the founding clubs in the top division, just like the 2019 plan. Governance of the clubs? Of course, only by the big ones.“
Bernd Reichart, CEO of A22, writes in the German newspaper Welt, blaming UEFA for the club’s lack of decision-making power. He argues that clubs bear the financial risk in football, but when it comes to crucial decisions, they often have to stand by as the sporting and financial foundations slip away. Reichart also claims that A22’s discussions with clubs revealed that it is impossible for them to voice opposition to a system that uses the threat of sanctions to suppress dissent.
Reichart also pledges to support the women’s game, domestic competitions, player health, financial sustainability, and fan experience but offers no details on the revenue generated or who might run the ESL. In its first iteration in 2021, power resided in the hands of Perez, former Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli, and Manchester United co-owner Joel Glazer.
The new format for Uefa’s Champions League post-2024, the “Swiss model,” has 36 teams in a single division playing ten group stage games instead of the current six.
Reviving the European Super League: A Battle Against the Odds, but Barcelona Real Madrid and Juventus still remain
The original European Super League faced a major setback in its legal case against UEFA in the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg as the advocate general advised the court in favor of UEFA’s monopoly, finding that EU competition law was compatible with UEFA and FIFA’s power over football.
But, Despite the confidence from A22 to progress with dialogue, almost all stakeholders fail to recognize their authority. UEFA President Alexander Ceferin has already dismissed their efforts, telling reporters in Argentina in October that the project was “dead”.
For the European Super League to be revived, A22 must first and foremost win their battle in court. Then, they need to present a clear and open format that will win the support of clubs, leagues, and fans. Even with that, the financial reward would have to be both beneficial to all and astronomical to make most stakeholders reconsider breaking away from UEFA, considering the already congested fixture calendar.
A22 must prove, not just claim, that their new format is sustainable and financially lucrative. Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Juventus remain pro-ESL rebels, but the vast majority of clubs plan to collectively and aggressively oppose the ESL and instead push for reforms from within UEFA, potentially using parts they like from any alternative format as leverage.
The European Super League is merely a moniker at present, and the tarnished reputation of that name makes it challenging to envision its success. Although financial support and innovative concepts could prove advantageous, there remains a lack of trust and even if they secure a legal victory, it will not automatically repair the situation.
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Arpan Ghosh
(1403 Articles Published)