Football and governance

Super League, A22 asks Fifa and Uefa for recognition of the new Unify League

Superleague promoter aims to get the green light for new football competitions in light of last year's EU Court of Justice ruling

by Marco Bellinazzo

17 December 2024

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Atalanta - Real Madrid . (Spada/LaPresse)

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A22 Sports Management, the company behind the football Superleague, announced on 17 December 'the submission of a proposal to Uefa and Fifa to obtain official recognition of its new European football competitions. According to the ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), any competition, the qualification of which is inclusive, meritocratic and compatible with the overall schedule, can be initiated'.

Therefore, A22, supported today by Real Madrid and Barcelona, put forward a 'proposal that incorporates feedback received from a relevant variety of football stakeholders over the years and in particular after the ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union. A key feature is the revised qualification system, whereby clubs' participation is based on their annual performance in national championships. The proposal is also fully aligned with the UEFA definition of the 'European Sport Model'. The revised annual qualification system was largely developed following discussions with clubs, leagues and other parties. These discussions have increased significantly since the Court's ruling, which has generated a more constructive environment for open dialogue'.

A22's objectives

"A22 is focused on ensuring the sustainable growth and development of football," explained Bernd Reichart, CEO of A22. "Our extensive engagement with key stakeholders has revealed a number of urgent challenges facing football, including rising season ticket costs for fans, an overburdened schedule for players, underinvestment in women's football, and dissatisfaction with the format and governance of the current pan-European competitions. Our proposal is designed to directly address these challenges."

Central to this vision is Unify, the fan-facing streaming platform, announced in December 2023, which will host all live matches. Unify will offer both free, advertising-supported match viewing and affordable premium subscriptions. It will also improve the home viewing experience by eliminating the need for multiple subscriptions by offering fans the advanced features they expect. Finally, it will connect clubs directly with their global fanbase for the first time. To give concrete evidence of the project's mission and the importance of the platform, the competitions proposed by A22 have been named 'Unify League'.

Unify League

A22 Sports Management, one year after the historic ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union that gave the green light to the creation of alternative football events to those organised by Fifa and Uefa, has launched the 'Unify League', a revised and corrected version of the 'old' Superleague. Four leagues, ninety-six participating clubs, and - above all - new criteria for access to the competition that reward sporting merit and mark a clear inversion of the creation of a closed tournament, one of the pillars of the initial 2021 project.

The main novelty concerns the mode of access to the competition, which is based on the national championship standings. The 96 clubs, belonging to the 55 European federations, will be divided into four leagues. In the main one, the 'Star League', in which the best teams from each national championship will participate, there will be sixteen teams, divided into two rounds of eight with home and away matches. Same formula for the 'Gold League', while the 'Blue League' and 'Union League' will consist of thirty-two participants.

The Superleague stages

After a succession of speculations and indiscretions, the tormented Superleague affair broke on 19 April 2021, with an announcement that had the effect of an earthquake in the football world, on the eve of the UEFA Congress in Montreaux. Shortly after midnight, it is announced that 12 clubs have joined forces to form a new football competition. The founders are Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Milan, Real Madrid and Tottenham. Great directors of the operation are the Blancos' number one Florentino Perez and the then president of the bianconeri Andrea Agnelli. Among the motivations for the project, which promises to start in just five months, are resources and stability to overcome the financial difficulties faced by the entire football community due to the pandemic. The format envisages 20 teams, of which 15 will participate by right and five others invited. Bayern, Borussia and Psg are the three big teams not joining.

Uefa's reaction is harsh, threatening a maxi-cause and the expulsion of clubs from European competitions and national championships. Fifa also expresses its opposition to the project. National federations and even most European governments join the chorus of 'no' votes. Fans are also reacting, expressing their disappointment on social media. English supporters take to the streets against 'the rich man's tournament', players and coaches also object. And some clubs quickly begin to regret joining: the first is Manchester City, which on the evening of 20 April announces backtracking, followed by the other English clubs. Milan and Inter also withdraw. The founding clubs meet urgently and announce that the project is suspended: the original format will be rethought. Uefa sings victory. On the morning of 21 April, Agnelli admits that the project 'cannot continue with 5 or 6 teams'. The revolution lasted just 48 hours, but Perez, on 22 April, assured that 'the project still exists'. On 26 April, the FIGC tried to take cover by passing an anti-Superleague rule: clubs that decided to join would not be able to take part in Serie A.

A few days later, on 7 May, comes Uefa's 'pardon'. Nine of the twelve founding clubs are reinstated, but by settling a fine: 15 million and 5% of Uefa revenues, plus 100 million if they return to the project. Juventus, Real Madrid and Barcelona resist. Uefa opened disciplinary proceedings against the three for potential breach of legal protocol. On 22 June, Juve, Real and Barça turn to the EU Court to ask whether Nyon's position is against the competition rules. The request came from the Commercial Court of Madrid, which had upheld the claims of the three 'survivors'. On 9 June, Uefa provisionally suspended the proceedings against the three clubs, pending the question of whether the 20 April order of the Madrid court prohibiting sanctions against the promoting clubs was valid on Swiss territory. On 27 September, Nyon annulled the proceedings. The same court, on 21 April 2022, lifts the ban. Uefa welcomes the decision. On 12 July, the European Court of Justice discusses the Superleague case.

In September, A22 Sports Management, the company appointed to represent the Superleague clubs, appointed Bernd Reichart as managing director. On 15 December 2022, the Advocate General of the EU gives its non-binding opinion, agreeing with UEFA. In January, the Madrid Court makes another U-turn: the 'rebels' cannot be sanctioned. On 13 July, the Superleague project lost Juventus, who, busy with the capital gains and salary trials, wanted to get back in touch with Nyon. The two 'survivors', Real and Barcelona, relaunched: open tournament, three series of 20 teams, promotions and relegations. Meanwhile, Uefa 'responds' with the new 36-team superChampions, starting this season. On 21 December 2023 comes the historic EU Court ruling that rewrites the games: the Uefa and Fifa rules violate EU law and are contrary to competition law and the freedom to provide services. It is the official green light for A22 Sports Management, which unveils its new format on the same day, promising fans 'the most interesting competition in the world'.