The company backing the European Super League has reiterated its desire to change the face of football by hiring a new CEO.
A22 Sports Management have appointed experienced executive Bernd Reichart as their new chief, as they look to resume their widely unpopular project. The company insist their aim is to help create a "sustainable sporting model for European club competitions".
The Super League was launched in April 2021 after 12 clubs - including Real Madrid, Barcelona and six Premier League teams - agreed to create a closed shop of elite teams and effectively end a structure that's lasted for over a century in European football.
The proposal was widely rejected by pundits, journalists, players, managers and supporters. Protests by fans led to the six Premier League clubs - Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham - pulling out after just 48 hours.
The Super League was unable to continue without English support, yet its architects are determined to resurrect it. A22 Sports Management have released a statement on the controversial competition's future, which is likely to worry many football fans.
"His [Reichart's] initial focus will be to initiate an active and extended dialogue with a comprehensive group of football stakeholders including clubs, players, coaches, fans, media and policy makers," their statement read, as quoted by ESPN.
"The aim is to facilitate the development of a sustainable sporting model for European club competitions that reflects the long-term and mutual best interests of fans and the broader football community."
Reichart, 48, added: "The Presidents of Real Madrid and FC Barcelona and the Chairman of Juventus FC have recently outlined their views on the issues facing the sport. I believe they are asking the right questions and am personally keen to listen to many diverse voices so that the European Football community can jointly find the right answers."
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There is a concern within European football that the Super League is not doomed after all. Regaining the support of Premier League clubs will be one of the biggest challenges to the architects. Speaking in March, Barcelona president Joan Laporta said: "We are still here with Juventus, Real Madrid and other teams waiting."
Laporta added: "We are here and we win in each of the legal proceedings that have been initiated. We are now waiting for the verdict of the European Court and we hope that it will rule by the end of the year."
Speaking in June, Real president Florentino Perez added: "Of course it is still alive, right now there is a question raised in the Luxembourg Court, there will be a hearing shortly and it will rule on the issues we have raised.
"We believe that we have the right, within the European Community, to organise competitions between us, with UEFA. We understand that UEFA is a monopoly and in this Europe of 27 [EU member states] a pillar is that of competition."
