Football: Super League only way out for European game, says A22 CEO

MADRID – The European Super League (ESL) project has adapted to criticism from two years ago when it was first launched.

But it remains the only solution to European football’s growing problems, said the CEO of A22 Sports Management, a company formed to sponsor and assist in the creation of the breakaway league.

On Thursday, the company published preliminary results of talks with 50 European clubs and stakeholders of football, saying “the vast majority of them share the assessment that the very foundation of European football is under threat, and it is time for change”.

European heavyweights Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus were among 12 clubs to announce a breakaway Super League in April 2021.

But the move spectacularly collapsed within 48 hours after an outcry from fans, governments and players forced most teams to pull out, leaving the three as holdouts.

The ESL took its case to a Spanish court which subsequently sought guidance from the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).

At issue in the ongoing court case is whether the statutes of Uefa and Fifa, which allow the European and world football governing bodies to block rival events and bar clubs and players from taking part, conform with EU competition rules.

“This project has now evolved,” A22 chief Bernd Reichart said.

“It has adapted to some criticism... to some evolutions in the market and it will also adapt once we have a certain legal certainty about how we can proceed with our proposals.”

A future ESL could include as many as 80 teams split into several divisions, breaking what Reichart said was a monopoly of Uefa competitions.

“We see competitive imbalances making it harder and harder for clubs to dream about European success... and to be competitive with leagues like the English Premier League which is increasing the gap and their dominance,” he said.

“Their dominance is scary for clubs who have the vision to compete at the highest level.”

Reichart said the ESL would boost revenues for clubs and would allow them greater control.

“I think it’s in the interest of the whole industry... that we try to create and to run the most attractive, most appealing, most exciting sporting event there is.

“Currently the European competitions are not living up to their potential.”

The preliminary findings released on Thursday, however, triggered angry reactions from national and European leagues as well as European club and fan associations which oppose the Super League project.

Uefa, the biggest opponent to the ESL plan which it sees as threatening its own Champions League competition, did not comment on Thursday. REUTERS