It was announced at 11pm on April 18 that a new European competition was to be formed among 12 football teams across the European countries.
Teams like Real Madrid, Juventus, and the ‘traditional top six’ in England would all be signing up to this new competition, it was revealed.
But what exactly is the European Super League and who will it involve? We take a look here – and answer your questions.
What is it?
The competition would form as a break-away tournament from the Champions League, allowing the clubs involved greater flexibility in how such a contest could be played.
The competition would be played mid-week, with the intention of teams still playing in their domestic leagues as well.
The competition is backed by the American investment bank, JP Morgan. This was what Sam Wallace, chief football writer for the Daily and Sunday Telegraph, tweeted about the financial arrangements:
The project is financed by J.P. Morgan with €3.5bn paid up front to the 15 founders, although the clubs and the clubs alone intend to be the shareholders of the European Super League
— Sam Wallace (@SamWallaceTel) April 18, 2021
The new competition would involve the 15 “founding clubs”, as well as five additional clubs that will be invited in based on their achievements in domestic competitions, and forming two, 10 team tables, playing home and away fixtures against each other.
The competition will then move in a knockout round when those fixtures are completed, with the top three teams in each table going through automatically, with teams in fourth and fifth playing a playoff game to decide the final two positions.
The knockout rounds will then finish up with a final in May which would be played at a neutral venue.
What teams are involved?
At the moment, we know of 12 of the teams involved:
Italian teams: Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan.
Spanish teams: Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid.
English teams: Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham.
🚨 Official statement.
12 football clubs today jointly announced an agreement competition, the Super League.
AC Milan, Arsenal , Atlético, Chelsea, Barcelona, Internazionale, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Tottenham have all joined.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 18, 2021
The German teams of Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have come out in opposition to this new league, along with the French team Paris Saint-Germain. ESPN Bundesliga commentator Derek Rae tweeted:
2/ Mintzlaff: “For us, it’s absolutely not a matter for debate that anything in this respect should change. We reject plans for the formation of a Super League.”
— Derek Rae (@RaeComm) April 19, 2021
What has been the overall reaction?
Sporting organisations from UEFA, FIFA, Premier League, LMA and FA have all condemned the proposals, with the UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, calling the proposal: “A spit in the face of all football lovers.”
UEFA have also said that they will ban any players from representing their national team in the World Cup and European Championships if they take part in this new competition.
The British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has condemned the proposal calling it “by the elite, and for the elite”, also going on to say that the Government will work with all the relevant footballing authorities to stop the tournament from going ahead.
What next?
It’s expected that there will be a long discussions and debates between official bodies and involving the individual clubs associated with the competition, as well as with the key people involved in setting it up.
However, whether this tournament will go ahead or not, it has not only shaken up the footballing pyramid but it has exposed to the fans the interests of the footballing owners right out at the very top.
