Super League makers: Clubs keep their fingers crossed "under the table"

The European Court of Justice makes a landmark ruling in the dispute over the Super League. Is UEFA exploiting its monopoly position? The future of the European Cup is at stake.

, and Anthony Ross

2023 December 19 . 7:53 AM

1 min read

Bernd Reichart is Managing Director of the sports project developer A22. Photo.aussiedlerbote.de

Sports policy - Super League makers: Clubs keep their fingers crossed "under the table"

The Super League organizers are confident ahead of the landmark ruling by the European Court of Justice in the dispute with the European Football Union. Among other things, the EU court is expected to answer on Thursday whether UEFA is exploiting its monopoly position in the organization of European competitions - or whether another organization may also organize European competitions.

"We are fundamentally optimistic and have great confidence in the European legal system," Bernd Reichart, who is pushing ahead with the Super League plans as head of sports project developer A22, told the German Press Agency. "It is an important milestone because we will then find out whether the market will be opened up. If the ECJ makes it possible for the clubs to gain sovereignty over their own competition, they will also have a hand in it. I am convinced of that."

In April 2021, twelve top European clubs without German participation presented their original plan for a Super League with permanent membership as competition for the existing UEFA Champions League. This was quickly rejected after strong protests from leagues, associations and fans. Now the creators want to create an open competition with 60 to 80 teams in several divisions.

"There is a very strong consensus that there is a problem at the moment and that we should all start looking for solutions. In Germany, too, people realize that the Champions League contributes to the fact that many countries in Europe always have the same champion. The Champions League in its current format with the annual qualifiers is driving polarization within the national leagues, and Germany is just one example of many," said Reichart (49). "There are clubs who say that this is the only chance for fundamental reforms. They say: we'll keep our fingers crossed for you, but under the table."