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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Aidan Smith

SPFL respond to Celtic and Rangers European Super League latest

The SPFL have responded to tentative links associating Celtic and Rangers with a revamped plan to introduce a European Super League.

A22, the company formed to assist in the creation of the original Super League project in 2021, unveiled plans on Thursday for a new competition played across multiple divisions and involving up to 80 teams.

A22 said the competition would be open, and that there would be no permanent members, in contrast to the 2021 version which collapsed within 72 hours of launch amid fan protests and opposition from UEFA, FIFA and even the British Government.

Both Celtic and Rangers have refused to comment on the new plans but Scottish league bosses at the SPFL have issued their stance.

A statement read: "We have seen today's statement from A22 Sports Management.

"The Court of Justice of the European Union will be ruling on Uefa's position later this year and we await the outcome of that."

The European Club Association have also commented as they took aim at the most recent proposals.

They said: "ECA notes the latest dispatch from A22's alternative reality.

"However, in the real world, this rehashed idea has already been proposed, discussed and comprehensively rejected by all stakeholders in 2019.

"This is just another deliberately distorted and misleading attempt to destabilise the constructive work currently taking place between football's real stakeholders to move things forward in the overall best interests of the European club game.

"As the sole organisation recognised by Fifa and Uefa representing clubs at European and international level, and the only body through which clubs have genuine representation in their decision-making, ECA reiterates its long-standing opposition to the European Super League and any breakaway project.

"A great amount of progress and positive change has been achieved by ECA in recent years.

"From 2024, more clubs from more countries will participate in European men's club competitions every season, growing the passion of European football and greatly increasing the amount of revenue being shared.

"Significant progress can be seen across other aspects of the game from women's football, youth and academy development, finance and regulation to sustainability and social impact.

"This is what real change looks like. We have moved on, when will A22?"

A22 says it has consulted with nearly 50 European clubs to develop 10 principles which underpin its new plans for the competition.

However, it has not disclosed the names of any of those clubs, with A22 chief executive Bernd Reichart saying it is clear “clubs are often unable to publicly speak up against a system where the threat of sanctions is used to stifle opposition”.

A22 has challenged UEFA and FIFA’s right to block the formation of their competition and to sanction the 12 clubs involved in the original Super League in the European courts. It argues those governing bodies abused a dominant position under EU law by acting as they did.

A final judgement in the case is expected from the European Court of Justice later this year, but a non-binding opinion published in December by the Advocate General in the case said UEFA and FIFA rules allowing them to block new competitions were compatible with EU law.

The new proposals issued on Thursday talked about a guarantee of a minimum 14 matches per season for the clubs involved, strict cost controls linked to revenue and a pledge to put the women’s game “at the centre” of its plans.

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