sportskeeda
A number of Premier League clubs have subtly expressed their support for involvement in the proposed European Super League.
On Tuesday, the league’s promoter, A22 Sports, unveiled plans for a new format named the “Unify League.”
6
6
6
6
6
6
Headquartered in Madrid, A22, which is backed by Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, has announced that they have reached out to Fifa and Uefa seeking official endorsement for the league.
The previous attempt by A22 to establish a breakaway league, announced in April 2021, faced immense backlash from the fanbase.
Nonetheless, this reworked league is poised to include 96 teams, segmented into four tiers—Star, Gold, Blue, and Union—with an essential system of promotion and relegation, thereby ensuring that performance leads to placement.
As many as ten Premier League clubs will be invited to take part in this new endeavor.
Involvement in the league will NOT affect their positions within the Premier League but would lead to the end of the Champions League.
SunSport has learned that a considerable number of clubs in the Premier League have privately indicated their willingness to join the new league.
A22 executives assert that Uefa must give its approval to this latest initiative following a ruling by the December 2023 European Court of Justice, which stated that prior attempts to obstruct a Super League contravened EU law.
Moreover, the management of the league is optimistic that the latest iteration of their “Super League” will receive Uefa’s endorsement, as reported by The Guardian.
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSS
The report indicates that Uefa is unlikely to provide a swift response, and approving the league—effectively calling A22’s bluff—could be one potential course of action.
While the exact prize fund for the tournament remains to be confirmed, A22 has promised £330 million in “solidarity” payments to assist smaller clubs and nations.
Unify League explained after the European Super League is reintroduced in a new format
The total funding is expected to exceed the current £2 billion pot allocated to Uefa for the Champions League as well as the combined £700 million for the Europa and Conference Leagues.
Regulations preventing clubs from joining any breakaway leagues have been integrated into the Government’s Independent Football Regulator, which is currently under parliamentary review and enjoys support from all major political parties.
In contrast, the new competition aims to overshadow Uefa and be governed by the clubs—similar to how the Premier League was formed over thirty years ago.
BOWING TO FAT CATS
By Will Barker, Sun newsman and Villa fan
JUST when it seemed the greedy clubs had absorbed the lessons from the last Super League debacle, yet another ludicrous concept emerges.
This time, the EU has rolled out the red carpet for elite clubs to siphon even more money from fans.
My team, Villa, has aspired since the dawn of the Champions League to again hear that famous anthem echo at Villa Park.
The memories of our 1982 European Cup triumph have faded, but recently, we’ve been fortunate enough to experience the thrill of being part of such a prestigious competition instead of merely envying our Premier League rivals.
Incredibly, Villa has had a remarkable journey in the tournament, even outclassing giants Bayern Munich, resulting in some of the most euphoric celebrations witnessed in the Midlands in years.
Football fundamentally belongs to the fans.
It’s not about the wealthy owners, and certainly not about the bureaucrats in Brussels, who should refrain from meddling in our cherished sport.
Plenty to like… but will fans support it?
By Martin Lipton, Chief Sports Reporter
THE original Super League version was primarily criticized for its obvious unfairness.
Football has always centered on teams’ on-field achievements—granting the Prem’s Big Six a lifetime membership in a breakaway elite would have compromised the integrity of the sport.
While many fans expressed outrage over A22’s latest proposals, the revised plans do address some of the concerns raised.
Qualification based on merit rather than historical acclaim is a positive step.
Furthermore, the inclusion of more “big” matches, with all teams competing in a mini-league format, home and away—making tracking a Champions League table with 36 clubs complex—is attractive.
The end-of-season knockout phase aims to create genuine excitement, especially with a final four-style week of single-elimination semifinals and a championship match.
However, skepticism remains regarding the effectiveness of a new streaming platform that plans to offer ad-supported “free” games alongside a premium subscription service in generating the billions required to sustain four tournaments annually.
The projected launch in autumn 2026 indicates significant challenges must be rapidly addressed—including winning over fans, whose opposition derailed the first Super League concept within 48 hours back in 2021.
Ultimately, the decision will rest with the clubs.
If they feel they are receiving a satisfactory offer, it may proceed—and if that means discontinuing the Carabao Cup, so be it.
