Status: 09.02.2023 3:10 p.m
The Super League is said to have several divisions with 60 to 80 teams. The potential organizers have presented principles for a format – the implementation of which remains uncertain.
The sports marketing agency A22, which is driving the Super League for the three remaining clubs Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and Juventus Turin, presented details on Thursday (02/09/2023). “A European football league should be an open competition with 60 to 80 teams in several divisions,” says a statement from A22, the content of which was first published in “Welt” by A22 boss Bernd Reichart. As announced, they don’t want to organize a closed competition, there should be “no permanent members”. Every club should have “14 guaranteed games” in the possible Super League classes – in the reform of the UEFA Champions League at least eight are planned from 2024 onwards.
Qualification via national leagues such as the Bundesliga should therefore be possible – whether it should remain the sole route to the European competition, as it is today in the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League, remained open, as did other questions: how many divisions should be give it? How many teams should come from which countries?
Promise: More income, strict control of finances
According to A22, the money generated should be distributed “across the entire pyramid” of football in order to make national championships more exciting again. The clubs should be subject to strong financial control, the relevant rules are “hard enforced”. The clubs should organize the league and financial control themselves.
A22 boss Bernd Reichart
Image: A22/Boris Breuer
Whether the Super League will ever be implemented depends primarily on a decision by the European Court of Justice.
Following the request of the Advocate General: How does the European Court of Justice decide?
There was a setback for the Super League in mid-December. The Advocate General at the ECJ had described the rules of UEFA and FIFA as compatible with EU law. This assessment is not binding on the court, but usually the court largely follows the Advocate General’s assessment.
In this case, the Super League would depend on approval by UEFA – otherwise the clubs would have to conduct their competition completely outside of the existing football system, meaning they could not take part in national leagues either. A verdict is expected in early 2023.
English clubs not included for the time being
Even a ruling in the sense of the Super League would have a catch: the judge’s ruling would not be applicable to English clubs due to Great Britain’s exit from the EU. The Premier League could continue to threaten their clubs with penalties for participating in the Super League, which is currently subject to a 35-point deduction in Premier League rules.
A22 boss Bernd Reichart knows that too. “It is our goal, based on this ruling, to develop a new, sustainable model for European club competitions, open to at least clubs from all 27 EU member states,” he said, according to the statement.
Super League started a new attempt in 2022
The new start of the Super League, which started in October, is taking place under the leadership of A22. Behind them are Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and Juventus Turin.
The arguments:
- The current system under UEFA is not up to date, younger fans are less interested than before.
- The English Premier League is developing into the true Super League.
- The reform of the Champions League only inflates the competition instead of improving it.
- Football finances are out of control and poorly monitored, leading to competitive inequality for rich clubs.
A22 repeatedly states that UEFA is in a conflict of interest as it organizes and markets the competition at the same time. However, how the Super League intends to resolve such a conflict of interest when it is founded and implemented has not yet been answered.
In the club finances, however, shortcomings have recently become apparent, especially in the drivers of the Super League: Barcelona accumulated debts in the billions, Juventus Turin was deducted points for accounting fraud. UEFA, leagues, associations and fan associations have criticized the Super League for only serving the finances of an elite club.
Partial success for the Super League in the Spanish judiciary
The Super League had recently achieved a partial legal success. The Madrid Regional Court prohibited FIFA and UEFA from punishing any clubs or individuals who worked to create the Super League.
In the course of proceedings, UEFA had already declared all penalties and proceedings against the initially twelve and now officially three defecting clubs null and void. A decision before the European Court of Justice will be more important anyway.
On April 18, 2021, twelve top clubs, including six clubs from England and three each from Spain and Italy, announced the Super League. 48 hours later the project collapsed, with the exception of Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and Juventus Turin, all clubs publicly declared their exit.
Source: sportschau.de