The Super League is making a new start – under a different name. The responsible consulting firm has submitted a proposal for recognition by FIFA and UEFA.
As the responsible agency A22 Sports Management announced on Tuesday, “a new proposal for pan-European club football competitions has been submitted today to obtain official recognition from UEFA and FIFA”. The application is based on “extensive feedback” from stakeholders in football and is “in line with the UEFA interpretation of the European sports model”. UEFA and FIFA are staunch opponents of the rival project.
They have repeatedly encountered “fierce resistance,” according to a letter addressed to UEFA General Secretary Theodore Theodoridis, which was also seen by kicker. “This behavior is incompatible with an organization that must always be open, transparent and free from conflicts of interest.” Now they hope that the “era of conflict is behind us and all parties will come together for the good of the sport.”
The door for the new approach was opened by the European Court of Justice in December 2023 with a landmark decision that the monopoly position of UEFA and FIFA is not compatible with European competition law. Competitions whose participation is regulated openly and meritocratically and that are in line with the overall game plan can therefore be officially established.
New name “Unify League”
Immediately after the ruling, A22 had submitted a draft for a new competition format for men and women. For the men, the plan is to play in a league system with 64 clubs in three leagues, and for the women with 32 clubs in two leagues. The competition was to be run under the name “European Super League”.
This name is now obsolete, and the competitions will now be called the “Unify League” – named after a streaming platform that will broadcast all the matches live. The vision is that Unify will broadcast some matches for free, financed by advertising, and also offer premium subscriptions. However, how the project will be financed in detail and who the financial backers are remains unclear.
Compared to the original draft, the new format is based on a “revised annual qualification system”, according to the statement. In contrast to the original plan, the position in the national leagues should be decisive for participation in the Unify League. “Now is the time for all parties involved, including UEFA and FIFA, to promote real progress,” said A22 CEO Bernd Reichart: “The priorities are the fan experience, cost-effective access to the games, the health of the players and the attractiveness of the competition.”
On the night of April 19, 2021, twelve European clubs announced the founding of the Super League and presented detailed plans for its organization. After a wave of rejection from fans, national leagues, clubs and the subsequent withdrawal of numerous clubs originally involved, the Super League announced its withdrawal just 48 hours later. Real Madrid, led by president Florentino Perez, together with A22, continued to push ahead with the establishment of such a competition.