Should a European Super League Be Formed?

[MenInG]

The 12 clubs involved in the failed European Super League have been told their plans were the stuff of "fabulists and failures" by Paris St-Germain chairman Nasser al-Khelaifi.

Premier League sides Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham withdrew within 72 hours of founding the Super League alongside six other clubs in April.

AC Milan, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid also withdrew, while Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus have not renounced the breakaway competition.

"I will not spend much time talking about 18 April and the 'not-so-Super League' because I do not like to focus on fabulists and failures," said Al-Khelaifi, as he made his first major speech as the new head of the European Clubs' Association (ECA) in Geneva.

All of the Premier League clubs were represented apart from Chelsea who accessed proceedings via video link.

The nine clubs who withdrew from the Super League rejoined the ECA last month after leaving in April, but Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus have not yet been reinstated.

Al-Khelaifi added: "Together we defended the interests of European football for everyone. We relied on the resolve and strength of [Uefa] president [Aleksander Ceferin], who stood up to the midnight coup. He said 'we will win' and we did.

"While the three rebel clubs waste energies, twist narratives and continue to shout at the sky, the rest of us are moving forward."

European Super League: Nine clubs that abandoned breakaway league retain ECA membership
Al-Khelaifi did welcome the return of the six Premier League clubs to the ECA. It is anticipated a Premier League representative will return to the ECA executive committee on Tuesday.

Evidently, passions around the Super League concept remain high.

In his speech, Uefa president Ceferin could not resist an attack on former ECA chairman, Juventus owner Andrea Agnelli, as he welcomed Al-Khelaifi's appointment.

"When passing through a storm, you need a good captain, not like the one in the past, who went away from the ship," he said. "The ECA has a good captain. Your future is bright."

Such warm words between Uefa's most senior official and the man who runs PSG will make some feel uncomfortable.

For all the euphoria around the successful fight against Super League, this summer's transfer window has hinted at fewer clubs competing at the elite end of the game.

Premier League duo Arsenal and Manchester United both spent in excess of £130m on players. Manchester City broke the British transfer record to buy Jack Grealish from Aston Villa and Chelsea almost matched that £100m fee by spending £97.5m on Inter Milan forward Romelu Lukaku.

Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos headed a quartet of free transfer arrivals at PSG that will earn enormous wages, whilst the French club also turned down a bid in excess of £100m from Real Madrid for striker Kylian Mbappe, even though he can leave for nothing next summer.

Lionel Messi and Nasser Al Khelaifi
Yet Khelaifi says he wants to bring "financial stability" to European football as a matter of urgency and new Financial Fair Play regulations will be introduced to ensure a "stable, sustainable, inclusive and competitive football pyramid".

Ceferin also said Financial Fair Play was "not about competitiveness".

"Cost control systems and competitive balance measures are two different parts of one body," he added.

"Of course they are inter-related but they have two different objectives. We can and we will work together on sensible measures to address competitive imbalance where necessary."

 

[MenInG]

Uefa has ended its legal fight against Barcelona, Juventus and Real Madrid over their involvement in the proposed European Super League.

The clubs were among the 12 "founding" members of the breakaway league, which later collapsed.

The trio, who have refused to renounce the project, were being investigated for "a potential violation" of Uefa's legal framework.

Uefa says it is now "as if the proceedings had never been opened".

"The Uefa Appeals Body has declared today the proceedings null and void," a statement read.

The moves comes after a court in Madrid ruled that Uefa should not punish the three remaining clubs.

European football's governing body has also said it will not yet collect the goodwill payments agreed with the other nine Super League clubs - Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham plus Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan and AC Milan. The English clubs had agreed a combined payment of £22m in June.

Why has the legal fight stopped?

Barca, Real and Juventus have the backing of a court in Madrid, which in April ruled Uefa could not take any action against the Super League because it represented an infringement of European free trade laws.

This has now been referred to the European Court of Justice for a ruling over whether Uefa do have that right.

However, while that case continues, Uefa has responded to last week's demand by a Madrid judge to suspend its disciplinary proceedings against the three remaining clubs by deciding to end its legal pursuit of them.

Uefa says it will not request any goodwill payments from clubs "as long as the Court proceedings in Madrid involving, among others, Uefa are pending".

"Uefa maintains its view that it has always acted in accordance with not only its statutes and regulations, but also with EU law, the European Convention on Human Rights and Swiss law in connection with the so-called Super League project. Uefa remains confident in and will continue to defend its position in all the relevant jurisdictions," it said in a statement.

"Uefa will continue to take all necessary steps, in strict accordance with national and EU law, in order to defend the interests of Uefa and of all football stakeholders."

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/58714235

 

[Firebat]

European Super League: Uefa calls ESL 'a cartel' at court hearing

Uefa called the breakaway European Super League "a textbook example of a cartel" on day one of a two-day hearing at the European Court of Justice.

The ESL launched with 12 clubs in 2021 but collapsed within 72 hours after nine withdrew amid protests from fans and opposition from governing bodies.

Barcelona, Juventus and Real Madrid have refused to renounce the ESL.

The ESL claim Uefa and Fifa had broken European Union competition law by blocking its creation.

Its lawyer Miguel Odriozola said: "For many decades, Uefa has ruled with an iron fist and beaten away any club that threatens its monopoly.

"We have taken upon ourselves to denounce the practices of Uefa."

The issue was referred to the ECJ from a court in Madrid which ruled Uefa should not punish the three remaining clubs in the ESL.

Uefa lawyer Donald Slater told the 15-judge panel the notion of a closed league of rich clubs is "a textbook example of a cartel".

"If Uefa had been compelled to authorise such a closed competition, other closed leagues would have emerged, leading to a systemic collapse of the European sports model," he added.

Uefa also said there was no conflict of interest in its role as regulator and also as a commercial entity.

On the opening day in Luxembourg, submissions were also made on behalf of Fifa, La Liga and the Spanish football federation as well as from 21 EU member states and the European Commission.

The judges are expected to ask questions of the different parties involved on Tuesday when the hearing concludes.

The advocate general in the case, who is listed as Athanasios Rantos from Greece, will provide a written opinion on how he believes the court should act, but this is not expected until September prior to any ruling.

A final decision is not expected before the end of this year or even early 2023.

The nine clubs who withdrew from the ESL included six from England - Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham - plus AC Milan, Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62128172

 

[MenInG]

Premier League clubs lost a combined £1.05billion during the 2020/21 season.

And, with clubs still feeling the financial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, supporters have been warned to brace themselves for another attempt from the elite to launch a European Super League.

A new report has uncovered how top flight clubs’ finances were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with Chelsea being the worst hit of all 20 sides.

The start of the 2020/21 campaign was delayed until September due to the late finishing of the previous term, which was halted at the halfway stage when COVID hit.

The combined loss of all Premier League clubs was slightly down on the figures for that previous season, where the 20 clubs together lost £1.38bn – a record figure since 2009.

Financial analysts Vysyble found Chelsea set a new record for losses in a single season since its summary work on the Premier League began in 2009 – a staggering £205.71million.

The losses in the English top flight in 2020/21 came despite combined revenue of £4.88bn – £3.34bn of which was made up of broadcast income.

Matchday revenue was £30m, the report found. That’s a fraction of the £700m that would have been expected, with COVID having a huge impact on attendances with the majority of games being played behind closed doors.

A limited number of fans were then permitted to attend matches from May – which meant every team played at least one match in front of supporters before the season ended.

Despite the lack of crowds, staff costs still rose by 5.86 per cent to £3.45bn.

Vysyble co-founder Roger Bell said: “The ‘Big Six’ clubs [Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham] achieved combined economic losses of £688.76m which represents 63 per cent of the overall divisional economic loss for the year.”

Bell said Vysyble’s figures showed there was just a one in three instance of a Premier League club achieving an economic profit over the period since 2009.

The season was also marked by a short-lived attempt by the ‘Big Six’ to form a European Super League, which quickly collapsed amid political pressure and fan outrage.

And with ownership of a Premier League football club not a guarantee of financial success, the financial expert admitted another attempt to form a lucrative breakaway is all the more likely in the coming years.

Bell added: “Owning a top English football club is not a profitable enterprise. Football lacks the merger and acquisition element that we commonly see in general commerce when a sector is performing poorly from a financial standpoint.

“Therefore, in football’s case, financial reform must either be operational or structural in nature. Indeed the Super League was an obvious and highly predictable expression of the latter option.

“With numbers as dire as they have been over the last two years, Super League version 2.0 is not at all inconceivable.”

https://talksport.com/football/1149...1billion-chelsea-covid-european-super-league/

 

[Firebat]

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has reaffirmed his club's commitment to a European Super League (ESL) and says football does not recognise that the game in its present form is "sick".

 

[MenInG]

The door is open for English clubs to join fresh talks around launching a European Super League, says a senior executive on the project.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham backed out of the project within 48 hours of its ill-fated launch in 2021.

But Bernd Reichart has indicated that talks with those clubs could still happen.

"It is a voluntary proposition to talk," Reichart told BBC Sport.

The former chief executive at German broadcaster RTL has been appointed chief executive of A22 Sports Management, the company promoting a revamped Super League proposal.

He added: "If someone closes a door, I cannot talk to them but I would expect people to be interested and that important clubs will want to drive it and go into the discussions.

"A number of clubs continue to care and suggest solutions despite criticism. They come back, they listen, they learn and engage in a conversation."

Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus remain wedded to the idea of a Super League.

They were three of 12 elite European clubs who announced the formation of the competition - which would have operated outside of Uefa's control - in April 2021.

But the six English clubs involved all withdrew swiftly amid widespread public and political opposition, with Prince William and then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson among those speaking out against it.

The Super League idea could be given fresh impetus, though, with the European Court of Justice (ECJ) scheduled to rule next spring on the validity of Uefa's monopoly on organising cross-border competitions.

Since the initial plan collapsed, Uefa and the influential European Clubs' Association, now headed by Paris St-German president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, have created a joint body for maximising commercial opportunities and negotiating broadcasting rights.

This has not stalled ESL supporters, with Reichart now leading the plan to revive the project.

Earlier this month, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez said football was "sick", with Juventus and Barcelona both experiencing severe financial pressures.

Reichart says he wants to create a competition where financial regulations are properly enforced, claiming this is not the case currently.

And he is keen to discuss a more open competition - with a lack of promotion and relegation one of the major factors in the downfall of the original plan.

"The central part of the criticism was about permanent membership, sporting merit and promotion and relegation," said Reichart. "Now the format will be the result of constructive dialogue.

"I am having ideas thrown at me and I want to explore them. We don't have a pre-determined format because that is what destroyed the dialogue last year. Then certain elements were picked up, Uefa came out with threats and sanctions and the debate was over.

"Now we are returning and making suggestions. It is the right approach and a credible one. There are a number of formats that could present the game in a more attractive and effective way."

BBC

 

[Firebat]

European Super League: Uefa and Fifa backed in battle to stop league's creation

Uefa and Fifa have received significant backing in their battle to block the creation of a European Super League.

In a report released by the European Court of Justice, its advocate general said the rules of football's European and world governing bodies were "compatible with EU competition law".

Athanasios Rantos gave his observations after a court case earlier this year brought by ESL and its backers A22.

A final ruling will be made by a 15-member Grand Chamber next spring.

It had been claimed that Uefa and Fifa were breaking competition law by threatening to sanction clubs and players who joined a breakaway league.

Plans for a European Super League caused a fallout across the football world when they were announced in April 2021.

The six Premier League sides that signed up to the project - Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal - quickly withdrew their support after a backlash from fans, football governing bodies and even government.

However, the plans have not been scrapped completely, with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus still pushing the Super League idea.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/63984477

 

[MenInG]

Former Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli has reiterated his belief in a European Super League in a farewell speech at the Italian club.

Agnelli was one of the chief architects of the breakaway plans to form the ESL in 2021.

The 47-year-old and the rest of the Juventus board resigned en masse in November amid a police investigation into the club's transfers.

"European football needs a new system," said Agnelli.

"Otherwise it risks a decrease in favour of a single dominant league which within a few years will attract all the talent of European football within its league, completely marginalising the other leagues and the others are already marginalised."

The ESL plan was announced with 12 clubs in April 2021 but collapsed within 72 hours after nine withdrew amid protests from fans and opposition from governing bodies.

BBC

 

[MenInG]

A new-look European Super League would be a competition with no permanent members and based on sporting performance, says A22 chief executive Bernd Reichart.

A22 Sports Management is a company promoting a revamped European league.

The company backed a 12-club ESL proposal in 2021 that failed to materialise after protests against it.

"The foundations of European football are in danger of collapsing," Reichart told German newspaper Die Welt.

"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."

The original plans for the ESL in 2021 contained 20 teams - 12 founding members and three unnamed clubs they expected to join later, plus five clubs who would have qualified annually based on their domestic achievements.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham backed out of the project within 48 hours following widespread condemnation.

Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus, however, are still pushing for an ESL.

Reichart says the new ESL would contain up to 80 teams, each guaranteed a minimum of 14 matches per season and continue to play in their domestic leagues.

In December, Uefa and Fifa received significant backing in their bid to block the creation of a European Super League.

In a report released by the European Court of Justice, its advocate general said the rules of football's European and world governing bodies were "compatible with EU competition law".

It had been claimed Uefa and Fifa were breaking competition law by threatening to sanction clubs and players who joined a breakaway league.

A final ruling will be made by a 15-member Grand Chamber in spring.

Despite the ruling, A22 has been engaged in "comprehensive dialogue with stakeholders across Europe on the future of club football".

It has also developed 10 principles, including broad-based and meritocratic competitions and development and finance for women's football, which would be the foundation for the new ESL.

"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," Reichart added.

"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."

Last year, Uefa approved changes to the Champions League meaning the number of teams in the group stage will rise from 32 to 36 in the 2024-25 competition.

The new format will see the initial phase contain one league table including all teams.

Each will play eight group-stage games against different opponents, with four home ties and four away.

The top eight will go through to the knockout stage, while those from ninth to 24th will compete in a two-legged play-off to progress.

Uefa said "similar format changes will also be applied to the Europa League (eight matches in the league stage) and Europa Conference League (six matches in the league stage) and both will also include 36 teams in the league phase".

BBC

 

[Firebat]

European Super League: Premier League clubs dismiss new proposals as 'laughable' and 'all hot air'

Several Premier League clubs have privately distanced themselves from the proposed new version of the European Super League, believing it to be laughable, Sky Sports News can reveal.

The announcement by A22 - the company fronting the ESL - on Thursday of a proposed new-look, open competition containing up to 80 teams in a multi-divisional format is being shrugged off, with strong sentiment that their "flimsy" press release does not even merit a public response.

Five clubs have indicated they want no involvement in the ESL, with a senior executive from a London team describing the latest push as "all hot air".

"There is no 'who' or 'how', nor any demonstrable mechanisms and substance. It's laughable," the senior executive added.

Resistance from the Premier League was expected by the rebel three - Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus - still peddling the failed project.

The division's 2022-23 owners' charter, designed to avert any future breakaway threat and signed by all 20 teams, reads: "We are collectively committed to the Premier League and recognise our responsibility to support it. We will not engage in the creation of new competition formats outside of the Premier League's rules."

So, while the ESL's first attempt at a breakaway hinged on participation from England's elite, the approach now has been to spark backing across the continent by attacking the top-flight's wealth.

A tone of exclusion is further underlined by the final principle of their manifesto stating a 'respect for European Union law and values', which is not applicable to England's pyramid.

https://www.skysports.com/football/...ss-new-proposals-as-laughable-and-all-hot-air

 

[Firebat]

Football regulator: UK government confirms new independent body

Blocking clubs from joining a breakaway European Super League will be among the powers held by English football's new independent regulator.

The plan for a regulator, recommended by a fan-led review last year, has been confirmed by the UK government.

Preventing historic clubs going out of business is one of the aims, as well as giving fans greater input and a new owners' and directors' test.

The significant move aims to protect English football's cultural heritage.

The main purposes of the proposed new regulator will be:

- Stopping English clubs from joining closed-shop competitions, which are judged to harm the domestic game
- Preventing a repeat of financial failings seen at numerous clubs, notably the collapses of Bury and Macclesfield
- Introducing a more stringent owners' and directors' test to protect clubs and fans
- Giving fans power to stop owners changing a club's name, badge and traditional kit colours
- Ensuring a fair distribution of money filters down the English football pyramid from the Premier League

"The English game remains one of the UK's greatest cultural exports, with clubs and leagues around the world modelling themselves on its success," the government said before its white paper on football governance - a policy document which outlines the proposed legislation - is released on Thursday.

"That is why the government is today taking the necessary and targeted steps to ensure that continues for generations."

The Premier League was understood to be wary of a regulatory body when the proposals were announced in April last year.

The league says it is "vital" a regulator does not lead to any "unintended consequences" that could affect its global appeal and success.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64536218

 

[MenInG]

English football's new independent regulator cannot be a "sledgehammer", says Premier League chief executive Richard Masters.

The plan for a regulator, recommended by a fan-led review last year, has been confirmed by the UK government.

It aims to prevent clubs going out of business, give fans greater input and introduce a more stringent owners' and directors' test.

"Regulation brings with it many challenges," Masters said.

"This needs to be a very precise regulatory tool and not a sledgehammer, otherwise it might take football sidewards, or even backwards, rather than forwards."

Regulator to block English clubs joining Super League
Does English football need regulator? Listen to Voice of the UK on BBC Sounds
The Premier League was understood to be wary of a regulatory body when the proposals were announced in April last year.

The league says it is "vital" a regulator does not lead to any "unintended consequences" that could affect its global appeal and success.

"We need to be able to ensure the things which have made English football so successful over the last 150 years, and during the Premier League period, are not damaged and the sport is fundamentally supported," Masters told BBC sports editor Dan Roan.

The main purposes of the proposed new regulator will be:

Read more at:

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/64750636

 

[BouncerGuy]

Uefa braced for long-awaited verdict in European Super League legal battle

Both sides in the European Super League case are anticipating change in the way football is governed, as the verdict on Uefa’s decision to shut down the breakaway competition is finally heard at the European court of justice (ECJ) in Luxembourg on Thursday.

A legal process initiated by the European Super League Company, one which has been two years in the making, is set to come to a head, with the central issue relating to Uefa’s position as the gatekeeper of new footballing competitions within Europe.

In 2021, immediately following the announcement of the breakaway tournament, Uefa took disciplinary action against the 12 Super League clubs, with each sanctioned and banned from European qualification for joining a competition that was unauthorised by the governing body. The Super League company brought legal action in response, its arguments focusing on whether Uefa should have the power to decide what is authorised or not.

Uefa’s disciplinary processes were suspended as part of these proceedings, with nine of the 12 clubs also walking away from the Super League. An opinion published last year by an advocate general at the ECJ found Uefa had not acted against European competition law by sanctioning its clubs.

The opinion was seen as a substantial indication of a verdict that would ultimately find in Uefa’s favour, but subsequent readings have found scope for the court to intervene, primarily over the process by which Uefa assesses new competitions, and the criteria it applies before making a decision.

For the Super League Company, and the sports media firm A22 that has been lobbying on its behalf, any decision from the ECJ that shifts away from the status quo of Uefa as both regulator and competition organiser will be a victory. For Uefa, meanwhile, there is confidence that any changes would be procedural, with the organisation having updated the assessment process for new competitions last year.

According to Jose Rivas, the partner and co-head of the Brussels Competition Practice of law firm Bird & Bird, clarification of the process and criteria would be an appropriate intervention by the ECJ. “The answer to an applicant whose competition does not comply with the rules of a given sport governing body should be: ‘I defend these legitimate objective criteria – here they are in my statutes – promotion by merit and so on,’” Rivas said.
​

Uefa braced for long-awaited verdict in European Super League legal battle

The European Superleague Company is challenging the governing body, with a decision to be made imminently at the European court of justice

www.theguardian.com

 

[BouncerGuy]

European Super League: Uefa and Fifa rules banning breakaway league unlawful, says court

Uefa and Fifa rules banning clubs joining breakaway competitions like the European Super League are unlawful, the European Court of Justice has ruled.

It had been claimed by the ESL and its backers, A22, that Uefa and Fifa were breaking competition law by threatening to sanction clubs and players who joined the breakaway league.

A ruling on Thursday from Europe's highest court found against the governing bodies.

An initial report released last December by the ECJ said the rules of football's European and world governing bodies were "compatible with EU competition law".

However, the verdict will be seen as a blow to the authority of Uefa and Fifa and how they govern the game.

The report said that when new competitions are "potentially entering the market" Fifa and Uefa must ensure their powers are "transparent, objective, non-discriminatory and proportionate".

The report adds: "However, the powers of Fifa and Uefa are not subject to any such criteria. Fifa and Uefa are, therefore, abusing a dominant position.

"Moreover, given their arbitrary nature, their rules on approval, control and sanctions must be held to be unjustified restrictions on the freedom to provide services.

"That does not mean that a competition such as the Super League project must necessarily be approved. The Court does not rule on that specific project in its judgment."

The ESL saga began in April 2021 when news broke that 12 teams - including English teams Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham - had signed up to the breakaway competition.

There was widespread anger and condemnation from fans, other European leagues and even government, leading to the collapse of the plans within 72 hours.

The six Premier League clubs plus Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan and AC Milan were fined by Uefa, but action against Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus was halted during the legal process, although Juventus signalled their intention to quit the project in July.

The ESL has not been scrapped completely, however, with Real Madrid and Barcelona remaining interested in pursuing the venture.
​

European Super League ban unlawful, says court

Uefa and Fifa rules banning clubs joining breakaway competitions like the European Super League are unlawful, the European Court of Justice rules.

www.bbc.com

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Florentino Perez, the president of Real Madrid and one of the ardent supporters of the creation of the European Super League, commented on the court's decision to ban this tournament.

As you know, UEFA and FIFA opposed the creation of the Super League. Today, the European Union's Supreme Court ruled that these organizations acted unlawfully when they blocked the process.

“Today’s court decision is of enormous historical significance, highlighting two key findings. Firstly, European club football will no longer be a monopoly. And secondly, all clubs will now decide for themselves what to do next", - he said.

It is noteworthy that, in fact, only Real Madrid and Barcelona remain in the Super League at the moment, since they did not face the threat of exclusion from the Champions League or other FIFA competitions.

Initially, the list of participants in the European tournament included 12 teams.

Source : Talk Sports​

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Manchester United still against the idea of European Super league.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Premier League statement graphic new brand
League notes today’s judgment in European Court of Justice case involving "European Super League" and continues to reject any such concept

Premier League statement: Fan Engagement Standard. The Premier League notes today’s judgment in the European Court of Justice case involving the "European Superleague Company", FIFA and UEFA. This is a significant ruling and we will now fully examine its implications for the game.

The ruling does not endorse the so-called "European Super League" and the Premier League continues to reject any such concept. Supporters are of vital importance to the game and they have time and again made clear their opposition to a "breakaway" competition that severs the link between domestic and European football.

The Premier League reiterates its commitment to the clear principles of open competition that underpin the success of domestic and international club competitions.

Football thrives on the competitiveness created by promotion and relegation, the annual merit-based qualification from domestic leagues and cups to international club competitions and the longstanding rivalries and rituals that come with weekends being reserved for domestic football.

These principles are enshrined in the Premier League Owners’ Charter, introduced in June 2022, which aims to improve the collective strength and competitiveness of the League in the best interests of the wider game.

Since 2021, the Premier League, alongside other football bodies, has also strengthened its rules and governance in this area.

The Premier League will continue to engage in an open and constructive dialogue, with all relevant football stakeholders, on how best to protect and enhance the complementary balance of domestic and international club football.

Source : EPL

 

[FearlessRoar]

UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin on the Super League: "We will not try to stop them. They can create whatever they want”.

“I hope they start their top competition as soon as possible… with two clubs”.

“Football is not for sale”.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Manchester City Football Club confirmed in 2021 that it had formally enacted the procedures to withdraw from the group developing plans for a European Super League.

Our position has not changed. We remain committed to the values of European football, and we will continue to work with fellow clubs through the ECA and participate in UEFA competitions.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Banning clubs from joining a European Super League was unlawful and Uefa and Fifa are "abusing a dominant position", the European Court of Justice has said.

It comes after a case was brought by the ESL and its backers claiming Uefa and Fifa were breaking competition law by threatening to sanction those who joined the breakaway league.

The European Union's highest court found against the governing bodies.

It added that did not mean a breakaway league would "necessarily be approved".

On a hugely significant day for European football:

An initial report released last December by the ECJ said the rules of football's European and world governing bodies were "compatible with EU competition law".

The verdict will be seen as a blow to the authority of Uefa and Fifa and how they govern the game.

Uefa said it was "confident in the robustness" of rules it has brought in since the ESL was first proposed, and that it would "comply with all relevant European laws and regulations".

It added it trusted football's existing set-up would be "safeguarded against the threat of breakaways by European and national laws".

Barcelona - one of the initial 12 clubs to agree to the ESL - said the verdict "paved the way for a new competition".

And ESL backers A22 then released revamped proposals, which this time include a women's European tournament.

The plan would feature a league system with 64 clubs across three leagues in the men's competition, and 32 clubs across two leagues in the women's competition. Both would involve promotion and relegation.

The ESL had initially been intended to be a midweek competition consisting of two groups of 10 teams, followed by a play-off phase.

Anger grew when details emerged that the 12 founding clubs would never have to forfeit their places in the league, locking out all but five other clubs across the whole of Europe in the process, once another three founding clubs had been confirmed.

Fans protested that the ESL would be detrimental to leagues across Europe and that greed was the driving factor for clubs joining, with no consideration for supporters.

broadcasting of all Superleague matches. For clubs: Income and solidarity expenses will be guaranteed."

The ESL saga began in April 2021 when news broke that 12 teams - including English teams Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham - had signed up to the breakaway competition.

There was widespread fury and condemnation from fans, other European leagues and even government, leading to the collapse of the plans within 72 hours.

The six Premier League clubs plus Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan and AC Milan were fined by Uefa, but action against Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus was halted during the legal process, although Juventus signalled their intention to quit the project in July.

The ESL has not been scrapped completely, however, with Real Madrid and Barcelona remaining interested in pursuing the venture.

Real welcomed the ruling, saying clubs will now be the "masters of their own destiny".

"It is a great day for the history of football and for the history of sports," a statement added.

Meanwhile, Spain's La Liga said European football had "spoken".

The statement said: "Today, more than ever, we reiterate that the "Super League" is a selfish and elitist model.

It says their structures mean there is no way of checking whether their operations are 'transparent, objective, non-discriminatory and proportionate'.

It says the rules around commercial rights are anti-competitive.

This does not mean a European Super League is coming. For the English clubs in particular a lot of bad blood was created by the ill-fated launch of the project in 2021. Unpicking that, certainly in the short-term, will not be easy.

However, those who have pushed the project now know they can go away and speak to who they want, when they want, about a vision for European football that suits them, and Uefa and Fifa will have to work with them or risk losing their power.

No-one, including Uefa and Fifa, expected this judgement to be so powerful.

The ramifications will be felt for a long time to come.

Source : BBC

 

[Firebat]

They've returned with a new proposal that has a little more "sporting merit", and they only want to replace the mid-week European games.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1737793695783477628

 

[FearlessRoar]

European Super League: Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta on rejecting proposal

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says it is important to "look after fans" as his club rejected involvement in the revised European Super League proposal.

Arsenal were one of 12 clubs who joined the original ESL plan in 2021.

On Thursday the European Court of Justice said banning clubs from joining the ESL was unlawful and a revamped league was proposed hours later.

"Football supporters and the passion they bring to games is the reason this game belongs to them," said Arteta.

"Their opinion is very important and we have to look after them," he added.

In 2021, 12 teams signed up to the breakaway ESL designed to rival Uefa competitions, but the project was widely condemned by fans, supporter groups, European domestic leagues and even governments, leading to the collapse of the proposal within 72 hours.

Of the 12 clubs only Real Madrid and Barcelona have retained their interest in a breakaway league - proposed by A22 - with the rest backing down.

On Friday, the Gunners and Liverpool joined Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Manchester United in announcing their "position has not changed" on the ESL and confirming their commitment to Uefa competitions.

Their statement added to numerous issued across the continent from European heavyweights and domestic football leagues.

"We remain in the same position and we love playing in the Champions League and will continue to do so," said Arteta.

"The conversations [with the owners] that we had were very clear after what happened two years ago. I think the club has issued a statement that is very clear and transparent. We'll stick to that."

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe said on Friday he was against the idea of a Super League and agreed with Arteta that fans are the most important party in the discussion.

The Saudi Arabian-backed takeover of the Magpies took place after the collapse of the original ESL, which Newcastle were not involved in, but Howe said he would not be interested in seeing his side compete in the proposed new competition.

"I'd probably say I'm against it if you want a clear decision because I like the structure as it is," Howe said.

"I think the big thing in England was our supporters of football let their feelings be known the previous time that this was mentioned, and really I think ultimately it's their call which way they want this to go."

The new proposal is for a league system that would include 64 men's and 32 women's teams, with annual promotion and relegation.

The view from outside England

While the idea of a Super League has quickly been batted away by Premier League clubs, the view from some on the continent is a little different.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, football journalist Guillem Balague said "fresh thinking is needed" to address issues that are "eating football alive".

"Especially in England, you don't have a lot of time to listen to the Super League's side. But what is there not to like?" he said.

"They're talking about football being free to search new ideas to improve the game. Clubs can openly discuss the future and the worrying trends in football like an excess of games, too many inconsequential games, and young fans turning away.

"The idea that you can show football for free - forget it. That is completely unsustainable financially. But it is the beginning of something and it may become something else when both sides start listening to each other."

Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis joined his counterparts at Barcelona and Real Madrid in welcoming the court's ruling on the Super League project and said they now need to do "some serious thinking".

"Today football is administered by elderly people, but above all they are without vision," De Laurentiis told Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport.

Serie A champions Napoli were not one of the 12 clubs involved in the original breakaway league while fellow Italian clubs AC Milan, Inter Milan then Juventus all pulled out.

Italian journalist Mina Rzouki said: "My most important thing is I want a level economic playing field. I don't want teams to be playing where there is such a huge gulf of difference in money.

"That drains the competition. If the Super League addresses that, it will have my vote."

James Horncastle, another football journalist with expertise in Italy, added: "Ultimately may the best competition win. Breakaway is the wrong word. It is an adjacent competition. It will be something where clubs can now have the choice to go with what they think is best for their interests."

Source: BBC

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/67800721

 

[Firebat]

European Super League: Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp pleased Uefa gets 'a shake'

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is pleased that Uefa has had "a bit of a shake" after a court said banning clubs from joining the European Super League was unlawful.

The European Court of Justice said on Thursday that Fifa and Uefa had "abused a dominant position".

A revamped ESL was launched hours later but Liverpool, among several other clubs, have dismissed the project.

"I am delighted that we finally get a bit of an understanding," said Klopp.

Liverpool were one of 12 clubs who joined then left the original ESL proposal in 2021 - along with Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea.

All of those clubs released statements on Thursday and Friday to say their "position has not changed" on the ESL and confirmed their commitment to Uefa competitions.

"I agree 100% with that statement [from Liverpool]. But I am delighted that we finally get a bit of an understanding that Fifa and Uefa and other bodies cannot just do what they want," said Klopp.

The German also suggested it was an opportunity for issues in football, including fixture congestion, to be addressed.

"In the future we have to talk about a lot of stuff and if we just do the things they [Uefa] do - like putting in more competitions and playing more games - and we don't have a real say in what is going on, I like that they get a bit of a shake," he said.

Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin mocked the new ESL proposals but the head of A22, the organisation behind them, said fans and clubs can be convinced to back the plans.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/67800721

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Super League Could Start Next Season: Barcelona President Joan LaportaSix Premier League clubs were part of the initial proposal but pulled out and have shown no intention of returning.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta said Friday that a European Super League project could begin as soon as next season, adding that he does not care if English clubs join or not. The Spanish giants, along with Real Madrid, launched a Super League project in 2021 which quickly collapsed after fan and institutional fury, with the other clubs pulling out. In December the European Union's Court of Justice said world and European football governing bodies FIFA and UEFA had infringed competition law by blocking the breakaway league.

Super League promoters A22 Sports Management swiftly announced plans for a new 64-team tournament to compete with or replace UEFA's Champions League.

"The Super League could start next season, or it will be in 2025-26, and if not, I will rethink everything," Laporta told RAC1 radio station.

Six Premier League clubs were part of the initial proposal but pulled out and have shown no intention of returning.

"I don't care if the English teams join," added Laporta.

"They already have their Super League -- the Premier League."

Laporta said the project could begin with just 16 teams.

"The European Cup started in 1955 with very few clubs and later became the top competition in Europe," said Laporta.

"I imagine a first phase like this, and (more clubs) then integrating."

The Barcelona president suggested options for the clubs who might join the league along with Madrid and Barca, including Inter Milan, AC Milan, Roma and Napoli from Italy.

Laporta named Porto, Sporting Lisbon and Benfica as potential participants from Portugal, Ajax, Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven from the Netherlands, as well as French team Marseille and Belgian outfits Club Brugge and Anderlecht.

German giants Bayern Munich and French champions Paris Saint-Germain have criticised the Super League project and Laporta said they would not be involved.

A European Super League has been touted as a creation for overspending clubs to improve their financial situation.

Source: NDTV

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Spanish court rules in favour of Super League creators

Uefa and Fifa were wrong to ban clubs from joining the breakaway European Super League, a Spanish court has ruled.

Madrid's commercial court said the European and world governing bodies were practising anti-competitive behaviour and abusing their dominant position.

However, Uefa says the ruling is not an endorsement of the ESL or backing of any proposal.

A similar decision was made by the European Court of Justice in December.

The case was brought by A22 Sports Management, the company behind the ESL, against Uefa, Fifa, Spain's La Liga and the Spanish football federation (RFEF).

Uefa has since changed its rules around new competitions following the collapse of the ESL proposal in April 2021 and the court says those new rules are unaffected by Monday's ruling.

Uefa said the ruling "has not given the green light to, nor has it approved, projects like the Super League”, while La Liga added the court "did not endorse" the project.

Bernd Reichart, chief executive of A22, took a different view, saying the ruling meant "the era of the monopoly is now definitively over" and was "an important step towards a truly competitive and sustainable club football landscape in Europe".

Reichart also accused Uefa of stifling innovation and said clubs "should not have to fear threats of sanctions simply for having ideas and conversations".

The ESL saga began in April 2021 when news broke that 12 teams - including English teams Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham - had signed up to the breakaway competition.

There was widespread fury and condemnation from fans, other European leagues and even government, leading to the collapse of the plans within 72 hours.

The six Premier League clubs plus Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan and AC Milan were fined by Uefa, but action against Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus was halted during the legal process, although Juventus signalled their intention to quit the project in July.

European Super League: Spanish court says Uefa and Fifa wrong to ban clubs from joining breakaway competition

Uefa and Fifa were wrong to ban clubs from joining the European Super League, according to a Spanish court ruling.

www.bbc.com

 

[FearlessRoar]

Juventus withdraw from European Super League​

Juventus have requested to rejoin the European Club Association (ECA) after withdrawing from plans to form a European Super League.

The Italian club were one of 12 who signed up to form a breakaway European Super League in 2021.

The 12 teams, including six from the English Premier League, were excluded from the ECA in 2021 as a result, but nine have since been readmitted.

Juventus are now set to become the 10th, leaving just Barcelona and Real Madrid clinging on to the European Super League dream.

ECA chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi said: "ECA's door is always open to clubs who believe in collective interests, progressive reform and working constructively with all stakeholders."

Al-Khelaifi, who is also president of French champions Paris St-Germain, said Juventus would "rejoin the European football family".

The Serie A side started the process of withdrawing from the ESL in 2023, but required authorisation from Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Juventus' request to rejoin the ECA follows a decision from a Spanish court in May that ruled Uefa and Fifa were wrong to ban clubs from joining the European Super League.

Madrid's commercial court said the European and world governing bodies were practising anti-competitive behaviour and abusing their dominant position.

However, Uefa says the ruling was not an endorsement of the ESL or backing of any proposal.

The ESL project, which initially included Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham, faced a backlash from supporters across Europe in 2021 and collapsed within 72 hours.

Barcelona and Real Madrid maintain interest in forming a breakaway league, and have led revived plans proposing a revamped 64-club league.

European Super League: Juventus withdraw from plans and requests to rejoin ECA

Juventus have requested to rejoin the European Club Association (ECA) after withdrawing from plans to form a European Super League.

www.bbc.com