Super League project leaders unveiled a long-awaited new proposal on Thursday for a multi-division football competition that would function independently of UEFA and feature up to 80 European teams.
English teams Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Manchester United withdrew their support for the European Super League after initial proposals from back in 2021 were met with harsh criticism from all over Europe.
Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Juventus have resisted UEFA and FIFA’s threats to penalize clubs for trying to depart from the established order while remaining steadfast in their commitment to the plans.
Two years after the initial announcement, the European Super League has now reconfirmed its new plans to establish a merit-based league that may have as many as 80 teams.
“The foundations of European football are in danger of collapsing.” executive Bernd Reichart said in a press release outlining their ten principles for a breakaway league.
“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 insisted that there would be no constant members of the new competition, which would be decided based on performances in domestic divisions and has now been designed to follow a similar format to that of the Champions League.
The group behind the European Super League has reportedly spoken with more than 50 teams in an effort to gain support for the idea of establishing a league with 80 teams participating each season.
Reichart hopes to have the European Super League up and running by the 2024/25 season.
It is currently awaiting a ruling from the European Court of Justice over whether FIFA and UEFA have the power to stop clubs from competing.
