The proposed 96-club European Super League will feature four divisions inspired by the EU flag: Star, Gold, Blue, and Union.
A22 Sports, the promoter, presented its concept for a “Unify League” yesterday, revealing that they have sought official approval from Fifa and Uefa.
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A22’s previous effort to establish a closed 20-team league was halted in April 2021 amid a strong fan backlash, as reported by The Sun.
Nevertheless, A22 asserts that Uefa should endorse its latest plan following a December 2023 ruling from the European Court of Justice, which deemed prior attempts to obstruct a Super League as inconsistent with EU law.
An A22 representative confirmed yesterday: “The league names are inspired by the EU Flag and the Flag of the Council of Europe.
“The Unify proposal aligns with the principles of the European Union and meets its regulations.
“It welcomes clubs from all 55 participating countries.”
Clubs will qualify based on their performance rather than guaranteed spots.
Games will be streamed on a direct-to-fan Unify platform, although fans may need to subscribe for an ad-free experience.
However, one fan remarked: “They’re using an EU ruling as a rationale, and it seems that the flag has shaped the league names. This is unacceptable.”
A senior Uefa official dismissed the initiative as “nonsense” and labeled it a “Christmas pantomime.”
Tim Payton of the Arsenal Supporters Trust stated: “We are entirely against 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 intervene and stop the proposal.
The premier tier of the Unify League, Star, would comprise 16 clubs divided into two groups of eight.
The second tier, Gold, would follow a similar structure.
The remaining 64 teams would be divided into the Blue and Union divisions.
Each of those divisions would be segmented into four groups of eight.
A parallel women’s league would also be created.
A22, headquartered in Madrid, enjoys the backing of Real Madrid, its president Florentino Perez, and Barcelona.
A22 CEO Bernd Reichart expressed that the Unify League intends to tackle issues such as climbing TV subscription costs, a congested match schedule, inadequate funding for women’s football, and frustrations over the current competition structure and governance.
We are completely against these proposals and oppose any breakaway or super leagues
Tim Payton, from the Arsenal Supporters Trust
He referenced the ECJ’s 2023 ruling, which indicated that “any competition allowing for inclusive and merit-based qualification that adheres to the overall match calendar can be formally organized.”
Mr. Reichart claimed that A22 has communicated with clubs, leagues, and various stakeholders.
In contrast, Arsenal supporter Mr. Payton expressed skepticism: “I don’t think they’ve had considerable discussions with fan groups.
“We have confronted Arsenal regarding the Super League in our meetings, and they consistently assure us they are committed to maintaining existing frameworks and competitive balance.
“We urge the club to reject and ignore such proposals.
“This is a breakaway initiative driven by individuals 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 absorbed lessons from the blowback of the last Super League debacle, another absurd proposal emerges.
This time, the EU appears to welcome affluent clubs eager to squeeze even more money from fans.
My team, Villa, has long desired to hear that iconic anthem echo through Villa Park since the Champions League’s inception.
Fond memories from 1982, when we clinched the European Cup, have largely faded.
Yet, we have witnessed the splendor of this tournament while others in the Premier League bask in it.
Remarkably, Villa’s journey in the tournament has been exhilarating — even defeating the mighty Bayern Munich, sparking some of the most lively celebrations in the Midlands I’ve seen in years.
Football is for the fans.
It does not cater to the wealthy owners and certainly not to the politicians in Brussels who should refrain from meddling in our beloved sport.
“They’re marketing it as being somewhat more competitive, but it remains a breakaway endeavor propelled by Real Madrid and Barcelona.”
Manchester United fan and sports writer Andy Mitten commented: “I don’t find this realistic, and it appears to be driven by Real Madrid.
“I don’t support it.”
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Fan Doug Sanders from Spurs tweeted: “Absolutely not!
“The rising incidence of player injuries due to an overloaded match schedule suggests it is in dire need of relief.
“This is nothing more than a profit-driven venture for A22.
“I suspect this would compel fans to subscribe to another obscure channel.”
Another supporter commented: “Perez doesn’t handle rejection well, does he?”
Someone else noted: “Nobody wants this.
“Let’s put an end to this nonsense right now.”
No one wants this. Stop this nonsense now
One supporter
Another user remarked: “A total waste of everyone’s time.
“As pointless as the new World Club Cup.
“Stop bowing to faceless clubs.
“Fans long for competitive local matches.”
The new setup could allow up to ten Premier League Champions League, two in the Europa League, and one in the Conference League.
The Premier League is set to allocate three teams to Star, two to Gold, and possibly five more across the other divisions.
The original Super League concept guaranteed entry for 12 rebel clubs, including the Premier League’s Big Six — Liverpool, Man City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs, and Man Utd.
All placements in the Unify League will hinge on performances from the prior domestic season.
A22 plans for 14 league phase matches to be conducted from September to April.
The leading four teams from each group will then move on to a two-legged quarter-final, with victors advancing to a “final four” week of knockout matches to crown the champion.
This indicates that players, who are already expressing concerns about burnout, would encounter an even busier schedule.
No official launch date has been disclosed, but A22 is believed to aim for a September 2026 start.
The prize pool is still being finalized, but A22 assures £330 million in “solidarity” payments to smaller clubs and nations.
Total funding is expected to surpass the current £2 billion designated for the Champions League and the combined £700 million for the Europa and Conference Leagues.
Provisions preventing clubs from joining any breakaway competitions are incorporated in the UK Government’s Independent Football Regulator, which is currently advancing through Parliament and is supported by all major political factions.
Yet, this new competition seeks to supplant Uefa and be run by clubs — reminiscent of the creation of the Premier League over thirty years ago.
The Premier League, Uefa, and UK teams have not yet commented on the matter.
Nonetheless, clubs are likely aware of the possible backlash from fans.
In 2021, thousands protested at Arsenal, Chelsea, and Man Utd.
They ignited smoke bombs, demanded the resignation of club owners who backed the initiative, and condemned the proposed format, labeling it “Super Greed.”
Potential Merits… But Will Fans Embrace It?
By Martin Lipton, Chief Sports Reporter
The main problem with the initial Super League was its blatant unfairness.
Football has always revolved around on-pitch performance — granting a permanent place for the Premier League’s Big Six in a breakaway elite would undermine the fundamental integrity of the game.
While many fans reacted angrily to A22’s latest proposals, the new plans do seem to address more concerns.
Qualification based on merit, rather than a club’s historical achievements, is indeed a step forward.
Moreover, the idea of more “big” matches, where every team faces each other in a mini-league format, could establish a more transparent competitive structure compared to the current Champions League format with its 36 clubs.
Ending with an engaging knockout phase, especially with a final four week comprising single-elimination semifinals and a final, could enhance the competitive spirit.
However, it seems implausible that a new streaming model, offering both ad-supported “free” matches and a premium subscription option, can yield the billions required to sustain four competitions each season.
The proposed launch in autumn 2026 means substantial obstacles must be addressed promptly — including securing the support of the fans whose resistance swiftly dismantled the first Super League proposal in just 48 hours back in 2021.
Ultimately, the success of the initiative will depend on the clubs.
If they believe their interests are adequately represented, it may indeed gain traction — potentially even at the expense of the Carabao Cup.
