Bernd Reichart, the new CEO of the company at the heart of the European Super League project A22 Sports, confirmed that the plans are still moving forward.
Fans around Europe were furious when the original Super League project was launched in April 2021 and many across the continent protested. Their fury was heard and nine of the 12 founding clubs quickly pulled out, leaving just Juventus, Real Madrid and Barcelona attached to the project.
Speaking to Tuttosport, Reichart first discussed some of the details of the Super League project.
“First of all, I must say that I have received encouraging reactions in the first 48 hours of my appointment.
“The football world has appreciated our open approach to honest and fair confrontation in which I try to focus attention on what is happening to European football, transformations that can make it less relevant at world level and impoverish the clubs.
“The clubs that, ultimately, are the ones taking the economic risks and therefore have the right to be able to define their future, without being subjected to it.
“Then I talk about the economic sustainability of our ecosystem, which is becoming an increasingly serious problem and, finally, I dwell on the problem of the governance of European football, which must be up to the difficult challenges it is facing.”
He reflected on the failed launch of the project 18 months ago.
“The climate of threats and sanctions, immediately put in place by UEFA and some governments, had prevented us from setting up a meeting. Then today we present ourselves with an evolution of that project, with an open tournament and a completely different approach.
“In the meantime, the criticism of those opposed to an alternative competition was based on misconceptions that we are here today to clarify.
“And the consensus towards something new has increased, because many realise the problems that the football world is experiencing, exacerbated by the pandemic.
“There is a growing and palpable awareness of the need for reform in the world of football. And we propose our ideas, ready to give them shape together with our stakeholders.”
The A22 Sports CEO touched on if a new format was planned for the Super League.
“No, we have our own idea, which is based on an open tournament, with relegations and promotions, that could be more attractive for the public, more involving and better spendable at a global level.
“But we are here to listen, to analyse everyone’s ideas and not to impose a format, but to build it together.
“A European Union championship? The regulations within which we move are those of the Union, so yes, it could also be defined that way, but ours is an inclusive model, so there are no preclusions of any kind.”
Reichart spoke about the conversations that’ll be held with UEFA and FIFA.
“Will we talk to Ceferin? Of course. Well, if he wants to of course. At the moment we have sent him a letter that he has received and he has let it be known that he will respond in due course. We’ll wait.
“And with Infantino? Certainly. We will talk to everyone who cares about the future of European football, which is also a cultural issue. Football is the only truly global sport in the world.
“It was born in Europe and expanded everywhere during the last century, now it faces a crisis of interest, especially with the younger generation.
“We can ignore it, but the result is that European football will end up becoming less and less relevant and Europe itself will lose an important element of its culture.”
He spoke about a few shortcomings of current European competition.
“Few challenges between big clubs, an unattractive television product in the first phase in which there are too many matches useless for qualification purposes and too much predictability in the first phase. Flaws that the Champions League reform does not correct, but if anything amplifies.”
The A22 Sports CEO discussed the role of club presidents Florentino Perez, Andrea Agnelli and Joan Laporta.
“They started the discourse a year and a half ago, putting the problems of football on the table, and despite threats and criticism, even fierce criticism, they are still here to shoulder their responsibility as the clubs that lead European football, trying to improve it and take it into the future.”
Finally, Reichart spoke about if and when the Super League would start.
“That will be my, our goal in the coming months. We will see what the decision of the European Court will be and we will be ready.
“I am convinced that it will be done, for the good and survival of football. On the timing I can’t make a precise prediction, but I think we can’t assume a start before the 2024-25 season.”
It’s a scam and it will never happen.
A scam already happened in the form of UEFA’s competitions. They eroded the quality of all European cups to make a quick buck. Even if this doesn’t happen, change is needed but don’t expect it to come from UEFA (unless it means expanding the CL to 200 teams).
I hope with all my heart this goes ahead. Football is broken and we cannot continue to allow the PL to have an unfair non-sporting advantage over everyone else.
lol mark sour grapes, the EPL became the best as they invested huge money into it, thats not unfair, thats what businesses should do = invest to become better
problem with italian / spnish clubs – that thr all outdated, owners/ coches/youth coaches/phsyio/ doctors/ o l d stadiums/ traning grounds/ traning facilities/ o l d players/ o ld fans – / out dated marketing + out dated board memebers for club and country.
Everything is out dated – been like that for 20yrs.
Bet you mark the above poster is actualy Tony