The Telegraph
The proposed 96-club European Super League will feature four divisions inspired by the EU flag: Star, Gold, Blue, and Union.
Yesterday, promoter A22 Sports shared its concept for a “Unify League”, revealing that they have approached Fifa and Uefa for formal approval.
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The previous effort by A22 to establish a closed 20-team league collapsed in April 2021 due to severe backlash from fans, as highlighted by The Sun.
Nonetheless, A22 asserts that Uefa should endorse its new proposal following a December 2023 ruling from the European Court of Justice, which concluded that attempts to obstruct a Super League were incompatible with EU law.
An A22 representative stated last night: “The league titles draw inspiration from the EU Flag/Flag of the Council of Europe.
“The Unify proposal aligns with the principles of the European Union and adheres to its regulations.
“It will be accessible to clubs from all 55 participating nations.”
Clubs will qualify based on their performance rather than guaranteed entry.
Matches will be available for streaming on a direct-to-fan Unify platform, where fans may need to subscribe for an ad-free experience.
However, one fan remarked: “They’re using an EU ruling as justification, and it looks like the flag has influenced the league names. This is unacceptable.”
A senior Uefa official dismissed the proposal as “nonsense” and characterized it as a “Christmas pantomime.”
Tim Payton from the Arsenal Supporters Trust stated: “We are entirely opposed to these proposals and against any breakaway or super leagues.”
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He called on the football regulatory body being established by the UK government to terminate the proposal.
The top tier of the Unify League, Star, would include 16 clubs arranged in two groups of eight.
The second tier, Gold, would maintain a comparable structure.
The other 64 teams would be divided into Blue and Union divisions.
Each of these divisions would be further divided into four groups of eight.
A concurrent women’s league would also be formed.
Headquartered in Madrid, A22 has the support of Real Madrid, its president Florentino Perez, and Barcelona.
A22 CEO Bernd Reichart proclaimed that the Unify League aims to tackle issues such as rising TV subscription costs, a congested schedule, insufficient funding for women’s football, and the dissatisfaction with the current competition framework and governance.
We completely condemn these proposals and are against any breakaway or super leagues
Tim Payton, from the Arsenal Supporters Trust
He noted the ECJ’s 2023 ruling, which indicated that “any competition allowing for inclusive and merit-based qualification that adheres to the overall match calendar can be officially organized.”
Mr. Reichart affirmed that A22 has consulted with clubs, leagues, and other stakeholders.
Conversely, Arsenal fan Mr. Payton expressed skepticism: “I don’t believe they’ve engaged in any meaningful discussions with fan groups.
“We’ve confronted Arsenal about the Super League during our sessions, and they consistently assure us they are dedicated to maintaining existing frameworks and competitive parity.
“We implore the club to reject and ignore such proposals.
“This is a breakaway initiative driven by individuals outside the FA, Premier League, and Uefa framework.
Bowing to Greed
By Will Barker, a Sun newsman and Villa supporter
Just when it seemed that greedy clubs had learned from the fallout of the previous Super League drama, another absurd idea emerges.
This time, the EU appears to have rolled out the red carpet for affluent clubs eager to squeeze even more money from fans.
My team, Villa, has been longing since the Champions League’s inception to hear that iconic anthem echoing through Villa Park.
Fond memories from 1982, when we seized the European Cup, have largely faded.
Nonetheless, we have witnessed the splendor of this tournament while others in the Premier League indulge.
Remarkably, Villa’s journey in the tournament has been exhilarating — even triumphing over the formidable Bayern Munich, triggering some of the most thrilling celebrations in the Midlands I’ve experienced in years.
Football is about the fans.
It’s not for the wealthy owners, and certainly not for the politicians in Brussels who should refrain from meddling in our beloved sport.
“They’re marketing it as slightly more competitive, but it remains a breakaway project driven by Real Madrid and Barcelona.”
Manchester United fan and football writer Andy Mitten voiced: “I don’t think this is realistic, and it appears to be driven by Real Madrid.
“I do not support it.”
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Fan Doug Sanders from Spurs tweeted: “Just no!
“It’s evident that player injuries are escalating due to an overloaded fixture schedule, offering scant respite throughout the year.
“This is merely a profit-driven scheme for A22.
“I suspect this would require fans to subscribe to yet another obscure channel.”
Another supporter commented: “Perez doesn’t take rejection lightly, does he?”
Someone else noted: “Nobody wants this.
“Let’s put an end to this nonsense right now.”
No one wants this. Stop this nonsense now
One supporter
Another user remarked: “A total waste of everyone’s time.
“As pointless as the new World Club Cup.
“Stop catering to faceless clubs.
“Fans long for competitive local matches.”
The new structure could allow for up to ten Premier League Champions League, two in the Europa League, and one in the Conference League.
The Premier League would allocate three teams to Star, two to Gold, and potentially five more across the other divisions.
The initial Super League concept promised entry for 12 rebel clubs, including the Premier League’s Big Six — Liverpool, Man City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs, and Man Utd.
All placements in the Unify League will depend on performances from the previous domestic season.
A22 plans for 14 league phase matches to be played from September to April.
The top four teams from each group will then progress to a two-legged quarter-final, with the winners moving on to a “final four” week of knockout matches to determine the champion.
This implies that players, already expressing concerns about burnout, would face an even more demanding schedule.
No official launch date has been set, but A22 aims for a September 2026 start.
The prize pool is still under consideration, but A22 promises £330 million in “solidarity” payments to smaller clubs and nations.
Total funding is expected to exceed the current £2 billion allocated for the Champions League and the combined £700 million for the Europa and Conference Leagues.
Restrictions preventing clubs from participating in any breakaway competition are included in the UK Government’s Independent Football Regulator, which is currently under consideration in Parliament and enjoys support from all major political parties.
However, the new competition intends to replace Uefa and be run by clubs — similar to the establishment of the Premier League over thirty years ago.
The Premier League, Uefa, and UK teams have not yet responded to the situation.
Nonetheless, clubs are likely mindful of the potential backlash from fans.
In 2021, thousands demonstrated at Arsenal, Chelsea, and Man Utd.
They launched smoke bombs, demanded the resignation of club owners who had supported the initiative, and lambasted the proposed format, labeling it “Super Greed.”
Potential Merits… But Will Fans Embrace It?
By Martin Lipton, Chief Sports Reporter
The main issue with the initial Super League was its blatant unfairness.
Football has traditionally centered around performances on the field — guaranteeing a permanent spot for the Premier League’s Big Six in a breakaway league would undermine the game’s core integrity.
While many fans expressed anger at A22’s latest proposals, the new plans do seem to address more concerns.
Qualification based on merit, rather than a club’s historical successes, is certainly a positive shift.
Moreover, the potential for more “big” matches, with every team facing each other in a mini-league structure, could lead to a more transparent competitive system compared to the existing Champions League setup with its 36 clubs.
Concluding with an engaging knockout phase, especially with a final four week comprised of single-elimination semifinals and a final, might elevate the competitive dynamic.
However, it appears unlikely that a new streaming model, offering both ad-supported “free” matches and a premium subscription option, can generate the billions necessary to sustain four competitions each season.
The planned launch in autumn 2026 means substantial challenges must be tackled urgently — including securing the backing of the fans whose opposition swiftly dismantled the first Super League proposal in just 48 hours in 2021.
Ultimately, the initiative’s success will depend on the clubs.
If they feel their interests are properly represented, it may indeed gain traction — possibly even at the expense of the Carabao Cup.
