Super League news LIVE – anger and derision as new plans for football breakaway revealed

Plans for the European Super League have been relaunched with a new multi-divisional format in an effort to revive the thwarted competition.

The ESL was crushed by a fierce backlash across football when it was first mooted in April 2021 by its founding clubs, forcing embarrassing climbdowns from those involved, and it was eventually shut down in court. But the organisation set up to devise and promote the competition, A22, has now released new plans for a Super League based on “merit” rather than ringfenced financial gains for a few founding members.

The new-look competition would feature 60-80 teams across multiple divisions with promotion and relegation, rather than one league. The competition would be based on sporting performance only, with no permanent members, A22 chief executive Bernd Reichart said in a presentation at a London hotel on Thursday morning, and teams would be guaranteed a minimum of 14 matches per season.

But there is fresh backlash from clubs, leagues and fans over the proposals, with Spanish La Liga president Javier Tebas describing the ESL as “the wolf disguised as the grandmother”, while the Football Supporters’ Association described the plans as “hot air”.

Follow all the latest news and reaction as the Super League relaunches its plans.

Super League - latest news

• Controversial European Super League relaunches with new multi-division plan

• Comment: European Super League revamp just the latest slap in the face to football fans

• Explained: Everything we know about the European Super League relaunch so far

• LaLiga chief Javier Tebas derides Super League relaunch

• New expanded Super League plans dismissed as ‘twitching of the corpse’

• Liverpool stand by anti-Super League stance

Controversial European Super League relaunches with new multi-division plan

10:18 , Karl Matchett

A new-look, open European Super League could contain up to 80 teams in a multi-divisional format, the competition’s chief executive has said.

The competition would be based on sporting performance only with no permanent members, A22 chief executive Bernd Reichart told German newspaper Die Welt.

Teams would be guaranteed a minimum of 14 matches per season, Reichart wrote.

A22, a company formed to sponsor and assist with the creation of the Super League, has consulted with nearly 50 European clubs since October last year and developed 10 principles based on that consultation which underpin its plans for a new-look league.

Full details here:

European Super League relaunches with new multi-division plan

Football’s most divisive project is back with a bang

18:29 , Luke Baker

Many in English football rolled their eyes at the latest European Super League announcement on Thursday morning, but some of that should be from familiarity.

While project backers A22 made great play of outlining their 10 principles, it is one core idea that matters most. The Super League in its current form is an attempt to create a Premier League-style competition that supplants the Champions League.

What that means is an event entirely run by its shareholders, who would be the clubs involved, and the governing body – in this case Uefa – effectively relegated to a purely administration role underneath in the manner of the Football Association. The Champions League itself could meanwhile become an equivalent to the EFL.

Miguel Delaney reflects on the day football’s most divisive project made its controversial return:

Football’s most divisive project is back with a bang

ECA criticise Super League plans as ‘already rejected'

16:01 , Lawrence Ostlere

The European Club Association - which represents the interests of teams under UEFA jurisdiction - called the latest update “a rehashed idea already proposed, discussed and comprehensively rejected by all stakeholders”.

A statement read: “This is just another deliberately distorted and misleading attempt to destabilise the constructive work currently taking place between football’s real stakeholders to move things forward in the overall best interests of the European club game.

“We have moved on, when will A22?”

La Liga president criticises the return of the Super League

15:44 , Lawrence Ostlere

LaLiga president Javier Tebas dismissed the plans in a typically colourful tweet.

“The Super League is the wolf, who today disguises himself as a granny to try to fool European football,” he posted on the social media site.

“But HIS nose and HIS teeth are very big. Four divisions in Europe? Of course the first for them (the big clubs), as in the 2019 reform.

“Government of the clubs? Of course only the big ones.”

‘The wolf disguised as the grandmother’: Tebas derides Super League relaunch

A22 Sports insists it has clubs’ backing

15:22 , Lawrence Ostlere

When might the competition start?

How would teams be selected for the inaugural competition?

How would teams would qualify for, and be eliminated from, the competition in subsequent years?

How many seasons might teams in the top tier of the new competition expect to be guaranteed European football for, before having to rely on domestic performance to qualify again, and what would be the impact of all this on domestic leagues?

PA understands A22 plans to develop such detail in further dialogue with clubs, and aims to present it after the final court rulings.

There are also no clear plans yet for how the competition will be governed, other than that it should be governed by the clubs, and plans related to the ratio of prize money between teams in the top division compared to the bottom one are still being developed.

PA understands there has been no official consultation yet between A22 and potential broadcasters, but A22 is understood to be confident it could secure start-up investment for its competition even in economic conditions which are much tougher than they were in 2021.

A22 Sports insists it has clubs’ backing

15:07 , Lawrence Ostlere

A22, the organisation behind the ESL’s revival, says it has consulted with nearly 50 European clubs to develop 10 principles which underpin its new plans for the competition.

However, it has not disclosed the names of any of those clubs, with A22 chief executive Bernd Reichart saying it is clear “clubs are often unable to publicly speak up against a system where the threat of sanctions is used to stifle opposition”.

A22 has challenged UEFA and FIFA’s right to block the formation of their competition and to sanction the 12 clubs involved in the original Super League in the European courts. It argues those governing bodies abused a dominant position under EU law by acting as they did.

A final judgement in the case is expected from the European Court of Justice later this year, but a non-binding opinion published in December by the Advocate General in the case said Uefa and Fifa rules allowing them to block new competitions were compatible with EU law.

The new proposals issued on Thursday talked about a guarantee of a minimum 14 matches per season for the clubs involved, strict cost controls linked to revenue and a pledge to put the women’s game “at the centre” of its plans.

However, there remain lots of unanswered questions.

Football Supporters’ Association condemns latest Super League plans

14:55 , Lawrence Ostlere

Revamped plans for a European Super League have been likened to the “twitching of a corpse” by a fans’ group.

A22, the company formed to assist in the creation of the original Super League project in 2021, unveiled plans on Thursday for a new competition played across multiple divisions and involving up to 80 teams.

A22 said the competition would be open, and that there would be no permanent members, in contrast to the 2021 version which collapsed within 72 hours of launch amid fan protests and opposition from Uefa, Fifa and even the British Government.

The new plans were dismissed by Kevin Miles, the chief executive of the Football Supporters’ Association, who said: “The walking corpse that is the European Super League twitches again with all the self-awareness one associates with a zombie.

“Their newest idea is to have an ‘open competition’ rather than the closed shop they originally proposed that led to huge fan protests.

“Of course an open competition for Europe’s top clubs already exists - it’s called the Champions League.

“They say ‘dialogue with fans and independent fan groups is essential’ yet the European Zombie League marches on - wilfully ignorant to the contempt supporters across the continent have for it.”

WATCH: European Super League sponsor explains thinking behind new-look proposals

14:40 , Luke Baker

Here’s what the European Super League are saying about their new venture

European Super League relaunch: What we know so far

14:20 , Luke Baker

In news that will undoubtedly annoy and worry football fans across the continent, the prospect of a European Super League has once again reared its ugly head, as the biggest clubs in the sport seem determined to force through this widely reviled idea.

After being sent packing by a rare moment of unity, albeit in the form of a burning rage, from football supporters back in 2021, the ESL is desperate to tell you why it’s different this time.

Up to 80 teams, multiple divisions and a guarantee of 14 matches per season, Bernd Reichart, the chief executive of A22, in charge of promoting the ESL, has detailed the framework of a more palatable league to German newspaper Die Welt.

But will it happen this time? Here’s what we know so far about the revived European Super League:

European Super League relaunch: What we know so far

Comment: European Super League revamp just the latest slap in the face to football fans

14:00 , Luke Baker

It’s back. After being sent packing by a burning rage from football supporters in 2021, the European Super League is desperate to tell you why it’s different this time.

The message was evidently not clear enough before, so the latest murmurings bring a fresh slap to the face to fans now routinely ignored by the powers that be.

Up to 80 teams, multiple divisions and a guarantee of 14 matches per season, Bernd Reichart, the chief executive of A22, in charge of promoting the ESL, has detailed the framework of a more palatable league to German newspaper Die Welt.

There is the peculiar assumption that the ESL can save the foundations of European football, which Reichart maintains are “in danger of collapsing.”

Jack Rathborn gives his take on today’s big news:

Super League revamp just the latest slap in the face to football fans

Barcelona president feels Super League could start by 2025

13:40 , Karl Matchett

Barcelona president Joan Laporta remains bullish about the prospects of the Super League and feels it could be in action within the next two years.

“This Spring we’ll have the verdict on the Super League. For clubs, it will be like what the Bosman ruling [which allowed footballers to move on a free transfer at the end of their contracts] meant for players,” Laporta told Cadena SER radio last month.

“If the decision is favourable, the Super League could be a reality by 2025. If it isn’t, the steps we decide to take will depend on what the verdict says. The degree of the victory will dictate what we can do with the Super League.”

Summary: Super League attempts revival with ambitious 60-80 team competition

13:25 , Lawrence Ostlere

A22 said there were 10 principles that emerged from the discussions, including improving competitiveness, financial sustainability and fan experience.

At issue in the ongoing court case is whether European body UEFA and global governing body FIFA statutes allowing them to block rival events and bar clubs and players from taking part conform with EU competition rules.

Summary: Super League attempts revival with ambitious 60-80 team competition

13:06 , Lawrence Ostlere

The Football Supporters’ Association, which represents fans in England and Wales and is a co-founder of Europe’s equivalent fan body, said the ESL plan did not have any backing from the continent’s fans.

“The walking corpse that is the European Super League twitches again with all the self-awareness one associates with a zombie,” said FSA chief executive Kevin Miles in a statement.

“Their newest idea is to have an ‘open competition’ rather than the closed shop they originally proposed that led to huge fan protests. Of course an open competition for Europe’s top clubs already exists - it’s called the Champions League.”

New expanded Super League plans dismissed as ‘twitching of the corpse’

Summary: Super League attempts revival with ambitious 60-80 team competition

12:46 , Lawrence Ostlere

Spain’s La Liga President Javier Tebas, a staunch opponent of the ESL, said the plan would only favour big clubs.

“The Super League is the wolf, who today disguises himself as a granny to try to fool European football, but his nose and his teeth are very big,” Tebas wrote on Twitter on Thursday.

“Four divisions in Europe? Of course the first for them, as in the 2019 reform. Government of the clubs? Of course only the big ones.”

‘The wolf disguised as the grandmother’: Tebas derides Super League relaunch

Summary: Super League attempts revival with ambitious 60-80 team competition

12:26 , Lawrence Ostlere

A future European Super League could include as many as 80 teams, Bernd Reichart, the chief executive of A22 Sports Management, a company formed to sponsor and assist in the creation of a breakaway soccer league, said on Thursday.

In a statement outlining the preliminary results of talks that A22 had with what it said was 50 European clubs and stakeholders of football, the company said change was necessary.

“The vast majority of them share the assessment that the very foundation of European football is under threat, and it is time for change,” A22 said.

“Feedback suggests a European football league that is open, based solely on sporting merit, multidivisional with 60 to 80 clubs and a minimum of 14 guaranteed European matches per club.”

Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus were among 12 clubs to announce a breakaway Super League in April 2021. But the move collapsed within 48 hours after an outcry from fans, governments and players forced Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, AC Milan, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid to pull out.

That left only Real, Barcelona and Juventus as holdouts. The ESL took its case to a Spanish court which subsequently sought guidance from the Luxembourg-based Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).

“Our objective is to present a sustainable sporting project for European club competitions available to, at a minimum, all 27 EU Member States as soon as possible after receipt of the judgment,” Reichart said.

“The issues are clear, and action must be taken for the benefit of fans, players, and clubs.”

FSA label Super League plans “wilfully ignorant” towards fans

12:05 , Karl Matchett

“The walking corpse twitches again with all the self-awareness...[of] a zombie”.

The FSA pulling no punches with their statement on the revived Super League.

They call the new proposals “wilfully ignorant to the contempt supporters across the continent have for it”.

European Super League latest

11:50 , Karl Matchett

Plenty of comment and, shall we say, derision, over the expanded leagues idea - almost as if a ‘best of Europe’ structure with different tiers already exists.

The lack of detail on offer from the manifesto is also cause for criticism.

‘Twitching of the corpse’: New expanded Super League plans criticised

11:35 , Karl Matchett

Grand new plans for a revived European Super League have been dismissed as “the twitching of the corpse” by the chief executive of the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA).

The organisation charged with devising and promoting the Super League, A22, has launched its radical new proposals, centring around plans for a 60-80 club competition across multiple divisions, which would operate in conjunction with existing national leagues such as the Premier League as well as Uefa competitions like the Champions League.

A22’s CEO, Bernd Reichart, presented his vision to the media at a London hotel on Thursday morning. Reichart claims to have involved nearly 50 European clubs and stakeholders in the discussions. But the feeling across the game remains deeply sceptical and the FSA says it was not directly consulted on the latest plans.

“It’s not going to happen,” the FSA’s chief executive, Kevin Miles, told The Independent. “This latest plan is just their way of reminding the world that they exist, they are still here. But it’s all hot air.”

Exclusive quotes from the FSA here:

‘Twitching of the corpse’: New expanded Super League plans criticised

Liverpool stand by anti-Super League stance

11:26 , Lawrence Ostlere

Sources at Liverpool have told the Liverpool Echo that their stance on the Super League remains unchanged from their September 2021 statement, when the club said: “Our involvement in the proposed ESL plans has been discontinued. We are absolutely committed to following that through and there should be no ambiguity to suggest otherwise.”

The organiser of the new Super League plans, A22, has yet to reveal which clubs, if any, back the proposals.

Super League relaunch: 10 principles

11:20 , Karl Matchett

There remains a startling lack of detail available over the Super League’s newly scrubbed reform plan, which features a list of 10 principles to govern their approach.

They say they have been formed after “consistent feedback” with clubs, though opted against saying which ones.

The 10 guiding princples are listed as:

• Meritocratic competitions, with multi-divisional format and no permanent members

• Clubs remain committed to domestic tournaments

• Improve competitiveness with stable, sustainable resources

• Player health at the centre of the game

• Well-enforced and transparent financial sustainability rules

• Create “the world’s best football competition”

• Improved fan experience

• Develop and finance women’s football by putting it “centre stage” side-by-side with men’s game

• Significant increase in solidarity

• Respect for EU laws and values

New expanded Super League plans criticised

11:19 , Lawrence Ostlere

Grand new plans for a revived European Super League have been dismissed as “the twitching of the corpse” by the chief executive of the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA).

Full story:

‘Twitching of the corpse’: New expanded Super League plans criticised

Football Supporters’ Association dismisses new Super League plans

11:08 , Lawrence Ostlere

The Independent has spoken to the Football Supporters’ Association this morning, who dismissed the Super League’s new plans as “hot air”.

“It’s not going to happen,” said the FSA’s chief executive, Kevin Miles. “This latest plan is just their way of reminding the world that they exist, they are still here. But it’s all hot air.”

The original Super League plans, involving 15 founding members including six English clubs who would have benefitted from ringfenced financial gains, was effectively killed off in court and there appears to be little momentum now for its revival.

“It’s the twitching of the corpse,” said Miles.

LaLiga would be ‘bankrupt’ if Real Madrid and Barcelona join European Super League

11:05 , Karl Matchett

LaLiga’s biggest two clubs were told late last year by finance group KPMG that moving to a European Super League would bankrupt Spain’s top flight.

The report estimated the league’s value – comprised of broadcast rights, sponsorship, season tickets and other ticketing – at 3.316 billion euros (£2.85bn) in the current season.

The existence of a Super League played in midweek would slash that value by 1.662 billion euro (£1.4bn) while if LaLiga was forced to become a midweek competition the impact is forecast to be even greater – with a reduction of 1.8billion euro (£1.5bn) – a drop of 55 per cent.

The presidents of Real and Barca, Florentino Perez and Joan Laporta, remain advocates of a Super League.

Javier Tebas derides European Super League relaunch

10:50 , Karl Matchett

LaLiga president Javier Tebas has hit out at the latest relaunch of the European Super League, depicting the organisation as a sly thief trying to steal influence and finance away from the heart of football.

Bernd Reichart, the chief executive of A22 - the company behind the ESL proposals - has released a new blueprint for the breakaway competition which would now feature 80 teams across a multi-division format.

Following the widespread condemnation by fans of the initial plans, most clubs involved in the 2019 launch quickly distanced themselves from the idea, many apologising in the process. Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus have remained the driving forces behind a renewed push, however.

Now the relaunch, which includes a minimum of 14 matches per team and features 10 principles of structure derived extensive consultation with clubs, is again purporting to stop “the foundations of European football [...] collapsing.”

Tebas, though, is insistent that the group are far from the saviours of football and will instead remain self-serving - tweeting an image which showed a “Super League” wolf disguised as a grandmother and a faceless “Europe football” figure stylised as Little Red Riding Hood.

More detail here:

‘The wolf disguised as the grandmother’: Tebas derides Super League relaunch

‘No detail’ on which clubs back new Super League proposals

10:35 , Karl Matchett

Sky journalist Rob Harris has revealed that A22 - the group behind the European Super League - have refused to divulge which clubs back them with the new proposals.

The English clubs initially aligned with the ESL in 2019 quickly removed themselves from the conversation after outrage from supporters.

Uefa backed by European court in recent reading

10:25 , Karl Matchett

As a reminder, Uefa and Fifa have both sought to stop the European Super League from being brought into being - while the company behind the ESL say the governing bodies are abusing their position of power under competition law.

In a significant moment for the future of European football, Advocate General Athanasios Rantos told the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in December that he backed Uefa over their opposition to the Super League, after Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus brought forward a case accusing the governing body of running a “monopoly” over the sport.

The opinion comes as a major victory for Uefa ahead of the final ruling next year and, though the opinion is non-binding, it appears to end any hopes clubs pushing for a European Super League had of competing in a breakaway competition while still retaining their places in domestic leagues.

More here from that ruling:

Uefa’s opposition to European Super League ‘compatible with EU competition law’

Super League - latest news

10:11 , Lawrence Ostlere

Plans for the European Super League have been relaunched with a new multi-divisional format in an effort to revive the thwarted competition