The organization behind the Super League has unveiled a renewed format for the controversial tournament. Sixty to eighty teams should compete against each other in several divisions in the plans of A22 Sports Management. Contrary to previous intentions, the Super League would now only be based on sporting achievements, with no fixed participants. Teams would play a minimum of fourteen games per season.
Bernd Reichart, director of the company behind the Super League plans, says in a press statement that A22 has consulted nearly fifty European clubs since October last year and has developed ten principles on that basis that form the basis of the plans for the new competition. He stated, “Our aim is to present a sustainable sports project for European club competitions that is available to at least all 27 EU Member States as soon as possible after receipt of the judgment. The problems are clear and action must be taken in the interests of fans, players and clubs.”
“The foundations of European football are about to collapse,” said Reichart. “It’s time for 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 on the sidelines and watch the sporting and financial foundations crumble around them. Our conversations have also made it clear that it is often impossible for clubs to speak out publicly against a system that uses the threat of sanctions to thwart opposition.”
Sixty to eighty teams
“A European football competition must be an open competition with several divisions, with sixty to eighty teams, so that a sustainable distribution of income is created over the pyramid,” is the proposal. “Participation must be based on annual sporting merit and there should be no permanent members. Open qualification based on domestic performance would allow emerging clubs entry into the competition. While pursuing competitive dynamics at domestic level.”
Extra income
“The participating clubs must continue to devote themselves fully to domestic competitions as they do now. At the same time, it is vital that domestic leagues are strengthened and made more competitive across the continent. The European leagues must play a central role in achieving this goal. By generating additional revenue and allocating it to the whole system.”
Fourteen matches
“In order to improve the competitiveness of European clubs, additional financial resources must be distributed throughout the pyramid and the rules on financial sustainability must be strictly applied. Clubs also need more stability and predictability in their annual revenues so that they can make sensible long-term commitments to spending on players and infrastructure. Substantial improvements in the format and attractiveness of current European competitions would generate additional resources. Stability and predictability of revenues would be dramatically improved. By offering clubs a minimum of 14 guaranteed European matches each season.”
