The new league’s promoter announced its proposal for a pan-European competition on Thursday, after a top EU court decided that football bodies UEFA and FIFA violated competition law by attempting to ban the breakaway Super League.
A22, the league’s promoter based in Madrid, stated that the verdict “finally gives professional clubs the ability to organize and manage competitions at the European level,” and that it “ends a 69-year UEFA monopoly.”
A22 declared in a statement immediately after the landmark verdict that it will “create the most exciting football competition in Europe.”
One of A22’s most eye-catching plans is the construction of a streaming platform where billions of Super League fans might watch matches for free.
The current concept for the men’s league, which was previously focused on the top European teams, contains 64 clubs separated into three categories. In addition, unlike a previous plan, it stated that participation will be “based on sporting merit with no permanent members.”
Nonetheless, according to Spanish daily Diario Sport, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid might receive €1 billion ($1.1 billion) in windfalls by signing loyalty agreements with the league back in 2021, when the contentious proposal was first presented.
It will also have an impact on women’s football, with 32 clubs expected to compete in its proposed two divisions.
The revised idea would include a knock-out stage at the end of the season to select the winner of each division and the teams that would be promoted and demoted for both men and women. Teams would be assigned to the lowest level based on their performance in domestic leagues.
Each squad would play at least 14 matches per year.
A22 stated that participating teams will get 8% of league revenues with a €400 million minimum payout. According to A22, this is more than double what they make from the “current pan-European competition,” a veiled reference to the UEFA Champions League.
It remains to be seen how this may affect the Champions League. UEFA maintained in a statement on Thursday that the EU court’s verdict “does not signify an endorsement” of the Super League.
“UEFA remains steadfast in its commitment to uphold the European football pyramid,” the European football organization said, adding that it hopes the current “irreplaceable model” will be protected from the threat of breakaways.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid President Florentino Perez stated that the ruling will be of “historical significance,” and that he will continue to defend the Super League — “a project that will bring economic sustainability for all clubs and, above all, that will protect the players and excite fans around the world.”
While its streaming platform intends to make the matches available for free, A22 stated that it will make money through advertising, premium memberships, distribution partnerships, interactive services, and sponsorships.