FANS are up in arms as the European Super League could be on the cards again – but not everyone is against it.
The breakaway competition was knocked back in 2021 following a mass outrage.
However, the European Court of Justice determined that FIFA and UEFA acted against competition law when they blocked the formation of the Super League two years ago.
And now the tournament could be revived but with a whole new format which a couple of footballing giants are firmly behind.
What clubs have agreed to be in European Super League?
Spanish titans Real Madrid and Barcelona have committed themselves to the European Super League.
And they are the driving force behind A22 – the group behind the controversial league.
Madrid President Florentino Perez rubber-stamped his clubs backing of the competition.
He said his club ‘welcomes with great satisfaction the decision’ of the European Court of Justice.
Napoli are the latest club to have agreed to be in the European Super League.
What teams are against it?
Manchester United have released a statement confirming that they will only be joining UEFA competitions.
The statement reads: “Our position has NOT changed.
“We remain fully committed to participation in UEFA competitions, and to positive cooperation with UEFA, the Premier League, and fellow clubs through the ECA on the continued development of the European game”.
Since then, several other clubs have said that they are against the European Super League:
- Manchester City
- Bayern Munich
- Borussia Dortmund
- PSG
- Atletico Madrid
- Valencia
- Sevilla
- Real Sociedad
- Monaco
- Roma
- Inter
- Feyenoord
- Pescara
What is the European Super League?
The European Super League will consist of four clubs being split into three divisions.
There is set to be a top tier “Star” division that will have 16 clubs in two leagues of eight.
And the second tier “Gold” division, will have the same while the third tier “Blue” will see 16 teams in four groups of eight.
That means 14 games – seven home, seven away – in each of the group phases.
The top four clubs in each of the leagues in the top two tiers will go through to two-legged quarter-finals, followed by two-legged semis and a one-off final in a neutral venue.
It means the overall winners will play 19 games, six more than in the current Champion League and two more than the maximum number required under the revamped “Swiss model” system coming in next year.
However, in the Blue tier, the top two in each league will go to the last eight.
The bottom clubs in the Star leagues will be relegated and replaced by the two Gold finalists. Likewise, the two bottom sides in Gold are replaced by the Blue finalists.
Up to 20 of the 32 Blue teams will be replaced by teams earning spots through domestic performances.
The number of places for each nation and quotas for the tiers have yet to be determined.
