A22, the European Super League promoter company, did not waste time. Hours after the ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) that enabled its creation, it announced the competition format it promotes, with 64 participants divided into three groupswith a champion in each of them and the inclusion of promotions and relegations to make it an “open competition.”
The Super League plans to broadcast the matches for free through a live events platform.
After European Justice ruled in favor of the Super League against UEFA and FIFA, it wanted to defend a new football model in a presentation of Bernd ReichartCEO of A22, in which he assured that “the new competition proposal is the result of extensive dialogue over the last 18 months, with many people from the world of football involved.”
“You participate thanks to sporting merit, there will be no permanent members and the clubs will remain committed to their national leagues”, he assured. A process that has resulted in the definition of a new format for the Super League, with small differences between the men’s and women’s formats.
In the men’s branch, there are 64 participants who will be divided into three groups – Star and Gold, with 16 teams in each of them; and Azul, with the remaining 32 – among which there will be relegations and promotions. In addition, teams may join the blue group based on the merits they have achieved in their domestic competitions.
After playing 14 games in each group of the different divisions, qualifying rounds will be held from the quarterfinals, with four teams classified by zone to define the champion. That is, there will be a champion for each group; assimilating to what is currently happening with the Champions League, Europa League and the Conference League.
Furthermore, after finishing a competition that is expected to be played from September to April, there will be promotions and relegations between categories, in addition to the possibility that new teams, to the detriment of the worst classified in the Blue group, qualify for the Super League based on their sporting merits in domestic leagues.
For its part, women’s football will operate in the same way, except that it will include fewer teams, 32, divided into the Star and Gold categories. Among them, two clubs will rise and fall after each season and A22 established that four can join. from the domestic leagues to the gold group instead of the four lowest ranked. “A format adapted to the current moment in women’s development,” said Bernd Reichart.
“There is still a long way to go. This proposal has been made with contributions from clubs of all categories and we all share the same vision about the challenges of sport,” said the leader.
“There are too many inconsequential matches and we are losing fans. Only in spring do audiences peak. Younger fans have many entertainment options and are turning their backs on football. We need good ideas,” continued Bernd Reichart, who insisted on his idea that football needs more transcendent matches.
“The format considers that there are exciting matches throughout the year. A League with 14 matches in which every match counts. Clubs that until now almost never face each other will compete regularly in Europe, generating greater rivalry. There is mobility between the leagues and There will be a great relationship with the national leagues. This proposal is designed for fans, it is exciting and it is a very ambitious goal,” he said.
“Football is the only global sport with millions of fans around the world. Europe is the home of football, where it was invented and where the world’s leading clubs reside. The challenge is to work with the clubs and the rest of those involved to “to see if we can create the best sports competition in the world. This is the objective,” he added.