On Thursday, A22, a sports development organization that was established to help create the European Super League for soccer, suggested a new competition that would see 64 men’s and 32 women’s clubs play midweek games in a league system around Europe.
The plan was made public shortly after the European Court of Justice declared that FIFA and UEFA, the entities that regulate soccer, had broken EU law by impeding the creation of a Super League.
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“This vision is based on extensive consultation with a wide range of football stakeholders across Europe and built on our core principles including participation based on sporting merit (and) no permanent members,” A22 stated in a statement.
“Taking part clubs remain in their home leagues, which continue to be the cornerstone of European football.
“Now that clubs can determine their own future at European level, we look forward to further engagement with a broad set of football stakeholders to achieve the objective of all great sporting competitions.”
A22 also suggested free live games viewing in a league run by the member clubs, as opposed to an organization like UEFA.
The Champions League, UEFA’s premier club competition, would be in jeopardy from the Super League competition.
The men’s competition is slated to have 64 teams divided into three leagues: Star, Gold, and Blue. The Blue League will have 32 clubs, while the Star and Gold Leagues will each have 16.
Teams will play eight-game home-and-away series, for a minimum of 14 games annually. Teams can qualify for the Blue League depending on their performance in their home league, and there will be yearly promotions and relegations between levels.
There would be two leagues of sixteen clubs each for the women’s competition.