On Thursday, the promoter of the new league revealed its proposal for a pan-European competition, after a top EU court ruled that football agencies UEFA and FIFA breached competition law by attempting to ban the breakaway Super League.
According to A22, the league’s promoter based in Madrid, the decision “finally gives professional clubs the ability to organize and manage competitions at the European level,” and it “ends a 69-year UEFA monopoly.”
In a statement issued immediately following the groundbreaking decision, A22 stated that it will “create the most exciting football competition in Europe.”
One of A22’s more intriguing proposals is to build a streaming network where billions of Super League fans may watch games for free.
The current men’s league idea, which formerly concentrated on the top European teams, includes 64 clubs divided into three groups. Furthermore, unlike prior plans, participation will be “based on sporting merit with no permanent members.”
Nonetheless, according to the Spanish daily Diario Sport, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid might enjoy a windfall of €1 billion ($1.1 billion) by signing loyalty deals with the league in 2021, when the disputed concept was first suggested.
With 32 clubs scheduled to play in its proposed two divisions, it will also have an impact on women’s football.
The updated plan would include a knock-out stage at the end of the season to determine the winner of each division as well as which teams would be promoted and downgraded for both men and women. Based on their success in domestic leagues, teams would be assigned to the lowest level.
Each squad would compete in at least 14 games per year.
A22 announced that participating teams will get 8% of league profits, with a minimum payout of €400 million. This is more than double what A22 earns from the “current pan-European competition,” which is a veiled allusion to the UEFA Champions League.
It will be interesting to observe how this affects the Champions League. In a statement issued on Thursday, UEFA stated that the EU court’s decision “does not signify an endorsement” of the Super League.
“UEFA remains steadfast in its commitment to uphold the European football pyramid,” the European football association stated, adding that it expects the current “irreplaceable model” will be safeguarded against breakaways.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid President Florentino Perez stated that the ruling will have “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 A22 aims to make the matches available for free on its streaming platform, it has said that it would make money through advertising, premium memberships, distribution partnerships, interactive services, and sponsorships.