The European Super League
Cast your mind back to 2021 when, as football fans, we were introduced to the European Super League (ESL), where the best teams in the world would compete in a league to be the best team in Europe. This included teams like Arsenal, Manchester City, Juventus and Inter Milan, Real Madrid, and Barcelona. Within seven days the whole idea collapsed, and many teams pulled out. Only a handful of teams were involved then. As football fans we hate the idea and were asking our teams to pull out as the league was talking about them not being able to compete in other leagues like the premier league if they were to join the ESL.
On 21/12/23, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that UEFA and FIFA rules granting prior approval for new competitions are contrary to EU law. When the initial ESL proposals were announced in 2021, UEFA and FIFA acted against competition law by blocking the formation of the competition and then seeking to sanction the clubs involved. A release issued by the court said such rules were "contrary to competition law and the freedom to provide services". A non-binding decision delivered by the Advocate General in the case last December found rules allowing UEFA to have prior approval of new competitions were compatible with EU law. The original 2021 Super League proposal was criticized for its 'closed' format, with 15 founder clubs set to have been immune from relegation.
So, this has now brought life back to the ESL which A22 Sports Management intend to build from. A22 Sports Management was a company created by Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Juventus to sponsor and push through legislation for the ESL. Juventus withdrew from the ESL earlier in 2023, leaving just Barcelona and Real Madrid- along with A22 - championing the formation of a new European competition. A22's CEO, Bernd Reichart, has been the face of the company and often announces ESL’s future plans.
So, what is the new format of ESL? There would be two stages to each season, the first stage is the league stage. The men's group stage would involve 64 European clubs divided into three tiers - Star, Gold and Blue. Star, the top league, would involve 16 clubs, grouped into two teams of eight. Gold, the second league, would be the same. Blue, the third league, would have 32 teams grouped into four teams of eight. All leagues would play 14 matches per season seven home and seven away. The women's league stage would feature 32 European clubs divided into two tiers - Star and Gold. Like the men's league, each would feature 16 clubs, grouped into two teams of eight. The league stage would occur between September and April with fixtures played midweek.
The Second stage is the knockout stage. In the men's and women's competitions, the top four teams from each Star and Gold league group will go through to the quarterfinals, meaning eight teams in each tier competing in the knockout stage. There would also be an eight-team knockout stage in the men's Blue League, with the top two teams in each group going through to the quarterfinals. All knockout stages will have two-legged quarterfinals and semi-finals. The finals would be played in a neutral location, with the winners of each final crowned Star, Gold or Blue champions.
Promotion and regulation would work like in the men's and women's Star League; the clubs that finish at the bottom of the two groups will be relegated to the gold league. In the men's gold league, the two finalists would be promoted to the Star League. The teams at the bottom of the two gold league groups will be relegated to the Blue League. In the men's blue league, the finalists would be promoted to the gold league. However, 20 of the 32 clubs will leave the league at the end of their campaign and be replaced by clubs depending on their domestic league performance. In the women's gold league, the two finalists would be promoted to the Star League. Four clubs will leave the league at the end of their campaign and be replaced by clubs depending on their domestic league performance.
Many Clubs from all over Europe have come out to speak against the new proposal from A22, including the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham, as well as Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, PSG, Sevilla, Valencia, and Villarreal. Manchester United released a form statement with many more clubs likely to be entirely suitable: “Our position has not changed. We remain fully committed to participation in UEFA competitions and positive cooperation with UEFA, the Premier League, and fellow clubs through the ECA on the continued development of the European game.” However, it is only known of a few supporters, Real Madrid, and Barcelona, who spoke favorably following the ruling. There is now no law for teams across Europe that can stop the clubs from joining the league due to the court ruling. However, for the likes of the UK after Brexit, it is now not governed by the rule of the EU.
The UK government’s Department of Culture, Media & Sport DCMS released a statement indicating that a bill about to pass into law, which sets up a new independent football regulator, would stop English clubs from signing up for a breakaway competition. “The attempt to create a breakaway competition was a defining moment in English football and was universally condemned by fans, clubs, and the Government; we took decisive action at the time by triggering the fan-led review of football governance, which called for the creation of a new independent regulator for English football. We will shortly be bringing forward legislation that makes this a reality and will stop clubs from joining any similar breakaway competitions in the future.” said a DCMS spokesperson.
Overall, the super league will not be around for long as many clubs do not want to be involved in the league. With only two clubs supporting this, it will not get the support it needs. Many fans want to avoid this happening. But with the new format, this could change some clubs’ minds; let us know your thoughts.