The “Big Six” of the Premier League have promised not to participate in any initiatives to bring back the European Super League.
Ideas like the Super League, according to Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou, typically originate from individuals who are “detached” from football.
Ideas such as the European Super League, according to Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou, frequently originate from individuals who are “detached from what this game is all about.”
Six English teams, including Spurs, signed up for the inaugural Super League in 2021 but quickly withdrew in response to objections from supporters.
All six Premier League teams involved in the last ESL have already distanced themselves from any attempt to recreate the league, but UEFA is now required by a ruling from the European Court of Justice on Thursday to at least consider ideas for alternative competitions like the Super League in the future.
In addition, if elected prime minister, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has promised to “make sure the European Super League doesn’t happen.” However, Postecoglou thinks the ideas won’t work if supporters aren’t on board.
The Australian stated, “Its initial reception is a fairly good indicator of where it sits within the footballing fraternity in general.”
That’s usually a reliable indicator. These ideas, in my opinion, are always carried out in a room with individuals who are occasionally disinterested in the main idea of the game.
Nobody will be shocked to learn that I tend to be cautious about these matters. I adhere to tradition. I don’t enjoy it when the game or the regulations change too frequently.
“But I guarantee you I won’t be in that room when these kind of concepts are put together. But you have a fairly good barometer of what the most important people – the fans – felt about it and football people in general, so we’ll see what the outcome is.”
Arsenal and Liverpool issued statements pledging their commitment to the European football mainstream on Friday, after the other four members of the ‘Big Six’ had done so on Thursday.
The company behind the original Super League project, A22, announced details for new “open and meritocratic” men’s and women’s competitions within hours of the ECJ ruling on Thursday morning. In the men’s competition, 64 teams would be involved with 20 places available each year to teams based on their domestic performance.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin mocked the proposals and said the format was “even more closed” than the one put forward in 2021, but A22 founder John Hahn told the PA news agency the principles of relegation and promotion were in line with domestic competitions across UEFA’s 55 member associations.
Real Madrid and Barcelona, key supporters of the 2021 project, are on board. Juventus and AC Milan, two of the other 12 involved, have not commented yet but Inter Milan have strongly rejected it, so too Spanish side Atletico Madrid.
The president of Italian champions Napoli, Aurelio De Laurentiis, said his club was ready to hold talks over the new project. Napoli were not one of the 12 clubs who launched the 2021 Super League.
Ceferin said “football is not for sale” at a press conference on Thursday, which significantly featured executives from all the key stakeholder groups – clubs, leagues, players and fans.
Clubs have gained considerable concessions since 2021 – a new Champions League format starting next season featuring more matches, and the scope for even more in the future, and the establishment of a joint venture with UEFA to oversee commercial matters linked to the Champions League and other club competitions.
The ruling on Thursday clearly empowers clubs, but in the short term may be the catalyst for further reform in their favour rather than revolution.
The Saudi-led takeover of Newcastle effectively means the Premier League now has a ‘Big Seven’, but Magpies boss Eddie Howe said he was against the idea of a Super League.
“I like the structure as it is,” Howe said.
“I think the big thing in England was our supporters of football let their feelings be known the previous time that this was mentioned, and really I think ultimately it’s their call which way they want this to go.”
