The backers of the European Super League have today revealed plans for a new version of the competition which failed two years ago.
Liverpool were one of 12 clubs from across Europe to initially back plans for a proposed European Super League in 2021. However, the Reds soon backed out, as did all other Premier League clubs who had signed up, amid widespread backlash from across the football community. Everton condemned the proposals, with owner Farhad Moshiri calling for the plotters to be punished and declaring: "Every facet of it is against the very idea of British football".
FSG chief and Liverpool’s principal owner John W. Henry even released a video apologising for the club’s initial decision to join the proposed league. Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United had all signed up, before backing out like Liverpool.
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Two years on, and A22 Sports Management, the Madrid-based backers of the Super League, have announced plans for a new version of their controversial vision. The proposals include a multi-divisional competition of 60 to 80 teams with no permanent members, and a minimum of 14 games per club, per season.
It has been claimed by A22 that the plans come after detailed discussions with clubs from around Europe about the financial issues that are facing them. It has not yet been stated how the 60 to 80 founding teams would be decided.
In a video released on their website, A22 chief executive Bernd Reichart talks about the perceived need for a new European competition.
“European club football is facing existential problems,” said Reichart, in a video on A22’s website. “As a passionate fan and newly appointed CEO of sports promoter A22, I am convinced that football can do better.
“First, football is losing its undisputed leadership position in global sports. It’s not living up to its potential by offering up the best matches, week after week.
“Consequences are massive. The most painful one is, especially younger audiences turn to other entertainment alternatives and watch less live football.
“Second, the current financial model in football is broken and unsustainable, financial controls are inadequate and insufficiently enforced, leading to competitive inbalances and financial stress. Football must control spending, and live from the revenues it generates, not from external capital injections.
“Third, clubs should be sovereign and masters of their own destiny, since they bear all the risks and investments.
“Today they are not not allowed to freely organise themselves at European level. While almost every domestic league is run independently by clubs, governance of European club competitions resides only with UEFA.
“Why? We believe there is a consensus among the European clubs that things cannot go on as they are now, and that we can do better.
“The right time for dialogue is now. A reform of a sport which is loved by millions, must take into account the broad range of stakeholder opinions.
“European football deserves an honest and open dialogue about its future, free from threats of sanctions and threats of exclusion from other competitions.
“Dialogue to me means: listening first. Let’s do what all football fans love to do right after watching the games: let’s discuss it, for the good of the game.”
A22 have released a list of '10 principles' they claim would govern the new competition - which seemingly seek to address some of the criticism levelled at the original plans. It is suggested that the new scheme would be 'broad based and meritocratic', with no permanent members and qualification open and 'based on domestic performance'. A22 claim to be committed to maintaining domestic leagues as the 'foundation of football'.
In September 2021, Liverpool reaffirmed their stance on the ESL: "Our involvement in the proposed ESL plans has been discontinued." The ECHO has been told by club sources that the full statement from Liverpool remains the case and that the plan moving forward is to continue to foster a good working relationship with the Supporters Board.
Everton's stance is believed to be unchanged from the views that senior club figures made clear in 2021. Chief executive Denise Barrett-Baxendale said at the time: "This preposterous arrogance is not wanted anywhere in football outside of the clubs that have drafted this plan."
It remains to be seen what the next steps will be for the controversial project - and whether more clubs will be brought into its orbit now that proposals have been revised.
Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus have been involved in an ongoing legal battle with UEFA where they have argued that European football's governing body holds a monopoly over the domestic game on the continent. Their legal action was originally pursued through a Madrid court - and is designed to try and clear a path for future proposals to be pushed through without punishment if they gained enough support.
In December the European Court of Justice delivered a significant blow to the prospect of the ESL being created, with a judge ruling that the current rules applied by FIFA and UEFA are compatible with EU competition law. A full judgement will arrive early this year and that will then be passed to the Madrid court to rule on.
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