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Four proposed divisions for the 96-club European Super League will draw inspiration from the EU flag, featuring names like Star, Gold, Blue, and Union.
The promoter, A22 Sports, unveiled its vision for a “Unify League” yesterday, announcing outreach efforts to Fifa and Uefa for formal endorsement.
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The previous attempt at forming a closed 20-team league fell apart in April 2021 after facing massive fan backlash, as detailed by The Sun.
Nevertheless, A22’s leadership believes that Uefa should support its new proposal following a December 2023 decision from the European Court of Justice, which deemed earlier efforts to block a Super League as contrary to EU law.
An A22 spokesperson affirmed last night: “The league’s names are inspired by the EU Flag/Flag of the Council of Europe.
“The Unify proposal follows the principles of the European Union and complies with its regulations.
“It welcomes clubs from all 55 participating nations.”
Clubs would qualify based on their performance, rather than being granted automatic entry.
Games will be available for streaming directly to fans on a Unify platform, with viewers likely needing to subscribe for an ad-free experience.
A fan voiced their concerns: “They’ve pointed to an EU ruling as their logic, and now it seems the flag has influenced the names of the leagues. This is outrageous.”
A senior Uefa official dismissed the notion as “nonsense,” calling it a “Christmas pantomime.”
Tim Payton from the Arsenal Supporters Trust remarked: “We absolutely condemn these proposals and oppose any breakaway or super leagues.”
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He urged the new football regulatory body being established by the UK government to block this proposal.
The Premier division of the Unify League, Star, would feature 16 teams divided into two groups of eight.
The Gold league would mirror this arrangement.
The remaining 64 teams would be split into the Blue and Union divisions.
Each of those leagues would consist of four groups with eight clubs each.
An accompanying women’s league would also operate alongside.
A22, located in Madrid, has the support of Real Madrid, its president Florentino Perez, and Barcelona.
A22 CEO Bernd Reichart indicated that the Unify League seeks to address concerns such as soaring TV subscription fees, an overloaded schedule, inadequate funding for women’s football, and grievances regarding the existing competition structure and governance.
We completely condemn these proposals and are against any breakaway or super leagues
Tim Payton, from the Arsenal Supporters Trust
He referenced the ECJ’s 2023 ruling stating, “any competition that embraces inclusive and merit-based qualification that aligns with the overall match calendar can be officially organized.”
Mr. Reichart confirmed that A22 has consulted with clubs, leagues, and other stakeholders.
Yet Arsenal supporter Mr. Payton expressed doubt: “I don’t think they’ve engaged in any meaningful discussions with fan groups.
“We regularly question Arsenal about the Super League during our meetings, and they consistently assure us they are dedicated to upholding existing frameworks and competitive balance.
“We urge the club to denounce and disregard these proposals.
“This effort is a breakaway initiative put forth by those outside the FA, Premier League, and Uefa structure.
Bowing to Greed
By Will Barker, a Sun newsman and Villa supporter
Just as it seemed that greedy clubs had learned their lesson from previous Super League debacles, another ludicrous concept emerges.
This time, it appears the EU has rolled out the red carpet for affluent clubs eager to extract more money from fans.
My team, Villa, has been striving since the inception of the Champions League to experience that iconic anthem reverberating through Villa Park.
Memorable moments from 1982, when we secured the European Cup, are fading fast.
Still, we have had the opportunity to enjoy the splendor of this tournament rather than merely spectating as our Premier League competitors flourish.
Notably, Villa’s journey in the tournament has been impressive — even overcoming the formidable Bayern Munich, igniting some of the most thrilling celebrations in the Midlands I’ve seen in recent years.
Football is about the fans.
It’s not about the wealthy owners or the Brussels politicians who should refrain from interfering in our cherished sport.
“They are marketing it as being slightly more competitive, but it’s still a breakaway initiative driven by Real Madrid and Barcelona.”
Manchester United supporter and football writer Andy Mitten expressed skepticism: “I don’t think this is feasible, and it seems driven by Real Madrid.
“I do not support it.”
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Supporter Doug Sanders from Spurs tweeted: “Just no!
“It is clear that player injuries are increasing due to a congested fixture schedule, allowing little downtime throughout the year.
“This is purely a money-making scheme for A22.
“I assume this would be streamed on a different obscure platform requiring fans to pay for a separate subscription.”
Another fan commented: “Perez doesn’t take no for an answer, does he?”
Someone else noted: “Nobody desires this.
“Let’s put a stop to this nonsense now.”
No one wants this. Stop this nonsense now
One supporter
Another user remarked: “A complete waste of everyone’s time.
“As pointless as the new World Club Cup.
“Cease catering to faceless clubs.
“Fans crave competitive local match-ups.”
The new structure could allow for up to ten Premier LeagueChampions League, two in the Europa League, and one in the Conference League.
The Premier League would consist of three teams in Star, two in Gold, and possibly five more among the remaining divisions.
The initial Super League proposal guaranteed entry for 12 rebellious clubs, including the Premier League’s Big Six — Liverpool, Man City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs, and Man Utd.
All placements in the Unify League would be earned through performances in the preceding domestic season.
A22 anticipates 14 league phase matches to occur from September to April.
The leading four teams from each group would then advance to a two-legged quarter-final, with winners moving on to a “final four” week of single-match encounters to determine the champion.
This suggests that players, already raising alarms about burnout, could face an even heavier schedule.
No official launch date has been announced, but A22 aims for a start in September 2026.
The financial pool is still being finalized, but A22 promises £330 million in “solidarity” payments to smaller clubs and national leagues.
The total amount is expected to exceed the current £2 billion fund for the Champions League and the combined £700 million for the Europa and Conference Leagues.
Measures to restrict clubs from joining any breakaway competition are included in the UK Government’s Independent Football Regulator, which is advancing through Parliament, receiving support from all major political factions.
However, the new competition intends to replace Uefa and be managed by clubs — similar to how the Premier League was formed over thirty years ago.
The Premier League, Uefa, and UK teams have yet to issue any statements.
However, clubs are likely conscious of the possible backlash from fans.
In 2021, thousands protested at Arsenal, Chelsea, and Man Utd.
They ignited smoke bombs, demanded club owners involved in the initiative step down, and criticized the proposed format, dubbing it “Super Greed.”
Potential Merits… But Will Fans Embrace It?
By Martin Lipton, Chief Sports Reporter
The primary concern with the first version of the Super League was its overt unfairness.
Football has always centered around on-pitch performance — ensuring that the Premier League’s Big Six remain permanently entrenched in a breakaway elite would undermine the core spirit of the game.
While numerous fans reacted furiously to A22’s new proposals, these plans seem to tick more boxes.
Qualification based on merit, instead of historical club performance from years gone by, certainly reflects progress.
Furthermore, increasing “big” matches, with each team facing every other in a mini-league format, would create a more transparent competitive framework than the existing Champions League setup featuring 36 clubs.
A conclusion with an exciting knockout stage, especially a final four week involving single-elimination semifinals and the finale, could bolster the competitive atmosphere.
However, the suggested streaming model, which offers both ad-supported “free” matches and a premium subscription feature, appears unlikely to generate the billions needed to sustain four tournaments each season.
The anticipated launch in autumn 2026 presents considerable hurdles that need rapid resolution — including securing the backing of the fans whose resistance dashed the initial Super League attempt in a mere 48 hours back in 2021.
Ultimately, the initiative’s success will hinge on the clubs.
If they feel that their interests are adequately represented, it could indeed gain momentum — possibly even at the expense of the Carabao Cup.
