After the ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union, A22 Sports Management has today unveiled the new project for the Super League.
"Following today's historic ruling, A22 Sports Management has announced a new proposal for the European Super League ("ESL"), both male and female. The proposal also includes innovative projects to launch the world's leading direct-to-fan sports streaming platform, where billions of fans will be able to watch all Super League matches live for free," the statement reads.
Bernd Reichart, CEO of A22, stated: "We have legally obtained the right to compete. European club football is free. The monopoly of UEFA, which has lasted almost 70 years, is finally over, and the Court's decision has positive and far-reaching consequences for football. We will continue to work with clubs, leagues, and other stakeholders without fear of sanctions, to create the best football competitions more centered on the fans in Europe. In particular, we will uphold our commitment to national leagues and the football pyramid, and for the first time since 1955, pan-European competitions can be governed by the participating clubs themselves, as is practically the case in all European national leagues."
The proposed new male Super League is a championship structure built on a true pan-European pyramid and composed of 64 participating clubs across three levels. Key elements of the proposal include:
The first two levels, the Star League and the Gold League, consist of 16 clubs each, while the third level, the Blue League, comprises 32 clubs.
Participation based on sporting merit, without permanent members.
Annual promotion and relegation between leagues. Promotion to the third-tier Blue League will be based on results achieved in the national championship.
Clubs will play home and away matches in groups of 8, with a minimum of 14 games per year.
At the end of the season, a knockout phase will determine the champions of each league and the clubs to be promoted.
There will be no increase in match calendar days compared to current competitions, and midweek matches will not interfere with national league calendars.
In the first year of the competition, clubs will be selected based on an index with transparent and performance-based criteria.
Effective financial sustainability rules will be introduced, along with transparent enforcement processes to ensure parity among participating clubs.
The proposed women's competition will include the same key elements as the male championships, including:
Star and Gold Leagues of 16 clubs each with groups of 8, home and away matches with a guaranteed minimum of 14 games per year.
At the end of the season, a knockout phase will determine both the champions of each league and the clubs to be promoted.
Annual promotion and relegation between the two championships, with promotion to the Gold League based on results in the national championship.
To ensure stability in the initial phase of the competitions, revenues during the first three years of the new competition will be guaranteed at an amount higher than currently envisaged in the next cycle. Solidarity payments will amount to 8% of the League's revenues, with a minimum sum of 400 million euros, more than double the amount distributed by the current pan-European competition.
Reichart stated, "We believe our proposal will create the most captivating football competition in Europe and, at the same time, enable a better and more sustainable football ecosystem, both for the male and female game. It can bolster historic clubs struggling to compete internationally, while taking a significant step forward in supporting the football pyramid."
A22 proposes creating the leading direct-to-fan sports streaming platform globally, Unify, where billions of fans will have the opportunity to watch Super League matches for free.
The digital platform will democratize live football access and connect fans with their clubs (and other fans) on an unprecedented scale. In addition to live matches, the platform will offer highlights, insights, match analysis, club-specific content, and many other interactive options. All matches of the women's tournament will also be distributed on the platform.
This will place women's football at the forefront alongside male competitions, allowing this growing and fascinating sport to be seen live worldwide, gaining the visibility it deserves.
The streaming platform will generate revenue from advertising, premium subscriptions, distribution partnerships, interactive services, and sponsors.
Distribution partnerships will be a fundamental component of the Unify experience to ensure ease of access for fans. Reichart continued, "Football is the people's game. The current fan experience, with multiple television subscriptions, is becoming prohibitive and needs new ideas. Other entertainment options continuously enhance their content offerings, and football needs innovation, especially to attract young fans.
We want to bring this extraordinary, impactful competition to fans worldwide, offering easy access to the best matches and an unparalleled, cutting-edge experience for fans. Putting fans first will accelerate football's unique position as the truly global sport."
The CJEU has taken a clear stance in the case, stating: "FIFA and UEFA rules on prior approval of interclub competitions are contrary to EU law." It further stated, "FIFA and UEFA rules that subordinate any new interclub football project to their prior approval, such as the Super League, and prohibit clubs and players from playing in these competitions, are illegal." A22 welcomes this decision and believes it is a historic day for football - its fans, players, clubs, and leagues.
Now that the CJEU (Court of Justic for the European Union) has paved the way, A22 intends to discuss its proposal with all stakeholders in the coming weeks, with the aim of undertaking the project as swiftly as possible.
Relayed via Milan News.
