PARIS – Bernd Reichart, the chief executive officer of A22 Sports Management, on March 4 presented a poll that showed 72 per cent of football fans have a favourable opinion of the European Super League project.

But regarding the promotion of the breakaway competition, a rival of Uefa’s Champions League, he said: “We still have to convince and to overcome a certain reluctantness of opening the window, change the chip in your mind, and the need for change in European football.”

According to the OpinionWay poll commissioned by A22, the Super League’s promoter, almost three-quarters of the people surveyed in eight European countries said they were in favour of the creation of the project.

It surveyed a sample of 6,458 football fans aged 15 and over living in eight countries. They were France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Britain, Netherlands, Belgium and Portugal.

The percentage of support is even higher among younger supporters, with 86 per cent of 15-to 24-year-olds polled being in favour of the Super League.

But Reichart reiterated work still needed to be done to ensure clubs feel “comfortable” to express positive support for the competition.

“(We) need to build a safe haven for clubs to decide... what’s best for them,” he said.

Announced in 2021 by 12 clubs, the first Super League project collapsed after outrage from fans of the English clubs involved and threats from governing bodies Uefa and Fifa.

Within 48 hours of that announcement, nine of the 12 rebel clubs – including six from the English Premier League – backed down.

The project was given a new lease of life in December when the European Court of Justice found that Uefa, European football’s governing body, as well as world body Fifa had contravened European Union law by preventing the formation of a Super League.

In the wake of the ruling, A22 announced plans for a new project with 64 teams from across Europe split into three divisions with promotion and relegation within their system.

“We are dedicated to having an open discussion about our proposal for the future of European club football with the clubs themselves and other relevant football players,” Reichart added.

“As we continue our discussions, it’s crucial for us to also hear from the largest and most important group – European football fans. We have evidence that the interest in a European Super League as a more thrilling alternative to the current European football club competition is stronger than ever.” AFP