The European Clubs Association have slammed new plans for a breakaway Super League as an "alternative reality" - saying the same proposals were already rejected by stakeholders in 2019.
A22, the sister company of the ESL, claimed that a new project is underway to create a new competition that would replace the Champions League. It was claimed more than 50 clubs had been contacted – possibly Rangers and Celtic – and that the new proposals were "a result of detailed conversations with clubs around Europe on the financial problems facing them."
Most clubs involved in the initial project have pulled out but Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus remain committed to the idea and the SPFL told Record Sport they plan to wait on a ruling from the Court of Justice of the European Union before acting further. La Liga though have slammed the plans and now a scathing statement from the ECA reads: "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 de-stabilise 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 in collaborative partnership with all football stakeholders – UEFA, FIFA and the confederations, national associations, leagues, fans, players and clubs of all sizes – working for the benefit of the entire European football ecosystem.
"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?"
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