Plans for a new European Super League have been widely criticised after the chief executive of the competition, Bernd Reichart, announced them on Thursday, 9 February.
The new competition would include up to 80 teams across several divisions and Reichart believes that the new plans address several problems that fans had when the competition was first proposed nearly two years ago.
Plans for New European Super League Announced
A new-look European Super League could contain up to 80 teams in a multi-divisional format, but what else do we know so far? 🌍💭
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) February 9, 2023
Nearly Two Years Since the Original Plans
The original European Super League was announced in April 2021, nearly two years ago now. The original format involved 20 teams in total – 15 were permanent members of the league and five other teams would qualify every year.
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It was viewed by many as the most blatant example of elitism in football. The plans elicited widespread anger in England, with fans campaigning for the “big six” English clubs to withdraw from the plans.
The Super league subsequently collapsed when all English teams did so two days later.
What’s Changed?
However, new competition plans have now been unveiled by Bernd Reichart and A22, the company tasked with the launch of the Super League. The new format would contain 80 teams that play across several divisions. Each team would play a minimum of 14 matches and there would be no permanent sides.
A22 have reportedly consulted nearly 50 teams since last October. They have also created ten principles on which the new plans are based.
Reichart: European Football ‘in Danger of Collapsing’
Reichart explained that he believes it is time for football to change and said that A22 will continue its conversations with clubs to understand what they want.
He also said that the national leagues would form the basis for qualification. They would be “the foundation” and the Super League in turn would generate revenues to support the football pyramid.
“The foundations of European football are in danger of collapsing,” Reichart said. “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.
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“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.”
New Super League Proposals Criticised
In October, Reichart said that the Super League could become a reality by the 2024/25 season.
But the proposals have already been met with backlash. LaLiga President Javier Tebas issued a statement that heavily criticised the new format.
“The Super League is the wolf in the story of Little Red Riding Hood,” Tebas said.
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“It is disguising itself as an open and meritocratic competition, but underneath there is still the same selfish, elitist and greed-driven project. Don’t let their tales fool you.”
The Football Supporters’ Association for England and Wales have also condemned the new plans, labelling it “the twitching corpse.”
The FSA went on to say: “They say ‘dialogue with fans and independent fan groups is essential’ yet the European Zombie League marches on – wilfully ignorant to the contempt that supporters across the continent have for it.”
It is clear to see then that the new plans regarding a potential ‘European Super League’ have been met with the same criticism as the original plans were just two years ago, but it remains to be seen whether the clubs involved are successful this time around.
