09 February 2023 , 13:04
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The new European Super League plans have been branded a “walking corpse” by the head of the influential Football Supporters’ Association.
A22 Sports Management, the company established last year to establish whether a breakaway tournament could be established, this morning unveiled its latest plans in a manifesto containing 10 principles. They promise that a tournament would be meritocratic and see 60 to 80 clubs involved. Those teams would need to qualify for the competition via their domestic leagues.
But their document lacks clear detail and any Super League is likely to initially operate as a rival to the Premier League rather than an accompaniment.
FSA chief executive Kevin Miles 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.
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“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."
That contempt has been loudest among fans of English clubs, who united in protest to stop the 2021 Super League plans within 48 hours.
Chelsea fans protesting the Super League plans unveiled in April 2021. (Getty Images)However, a number of clubs across mainland Europe are becoming increasingly dismayed by the imbalance that exists in the current landscape as several English clubs spend unprecedented sums in the transfer market as a result of broadcasting and commercial income that is unrivalled compared to the rest of Europe’s major leagues.
A European Court of Justice ruling due in the coming weeks is expected to rule in favour of UEFA, ultimately allowing the governing body to sanction clubs or players who are attempting to form a breakaway competition.
The A22 chief executive Bernd Reichart said that he has been in dialogue with nearly 50 European clubs and stakeholders to establish their preferences in recent months.
Following the release of their manifesto on Thursday morning, Reichart said: “Our discussions have made clear clubs are often unable to publicly speak up against a system where the threat of sanctions is used to stifle opposition. Our dialogue has been honest, direct, and fruitful. There are clear conclusions about the need for change and the building blocks of how to achieve it.”