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Leaked plans for a lucrative European Premier League have driven the soccer world crazy and left soccer on the brink of generational change.
Liverpool and Manchester United have been involved in talks about building a new FIFA-backed tournament, which would be funded to the tune of $ 6 billion (£ 4.6 billion) by Wall Street bank JP Morgan.
Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham have reportedly been approached as the revolutionary proposition takes shape, but what does this mean for the future of the Premier League, the Champions League, and football as we know it? This is what we know so far …
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First things first, who is involved?
It is understood that more than a dozen clubs from England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain are in negotiations to become founding members of the competition.
Liverpool and Manchester United, who have faced recent criticism for their development of the controversial Big Picture Project proposals, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham make up the contingent of Premier League clubs they have been approached to, and believe that up to five of them could be registered.
Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid of Spain, Bayern Munich of Germany, Juventus of Italy and Paris Saint-Germain of France are also believed to be among the candidate clubs for the new league.
The plans are said to have the backing of the sport’s world governing body, FIFA, and are also reported to involve Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez.
Can other clubs join the league?
As part of the initial plan, the founding clubs could not be relegated for 20 years, which means that there would be a maximum of six spots available each season.
It is understood that relegation could be part of the new competition, with the participation of non-founding member clubs subject to their position in the national league at the end of each season.
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What would a European Premier League look like?
At first glance, the European Premier League offers a fascinating perspective that would see the continent’s biggest clubs compete more consistently.
Initial proposals suggest that the European Premier League would be divided into two distinct sections; a league and a knockout phase.
With up to 18 clubs involved, the league would be part of a free-for-all tournament in which clubs would play midweek matches at home and away for 34 days.
Once completed, the league’s top-ranked teams would compete in a knockout phase where the winners of the European Premier League would be determined, though those details have yet to be revealed.
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What does this mean for the Premier League?
While past proposals for a European Super League threatened to break away from existing national leagues, plans for the European Premier League have been designed to work alongside competitions such as the Premier League.
Rather than form a breakaway league, matches will be played in existing midweek spaces that are currently occupied by the UEFA Champions League. It means that a Premier League club could meet its European Premier League commitments during the week, while meeting its national calendar on the weekend.
However, the creation of the European Premier League would have profound implications for the value of national broadcasting and sponsorship rights across Europe, at a time when the finances of the entire football pyramid have been hit hard by the crisis. of Covid-19.
So will this mean the end of the Champions League?
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In short, yes.
If the discussions are successful, the European Premier League would effectively usurp the flagship competition of the UEFA Champions League, which has been a mainstay of the continent’s football calendar for decades since its inception in 1992.
Unsurprisingly, UEFA strongly opposes this. He issued a statement Tuesday night saying that the principles of open leagues were “non-negotiable.” He also said that any such super league “would inevitably get boring.”
When would the European Premier League start?
Apparently, a tentative start date for 2022 has been proposed for the start of the European Premier League.
However, with the UEFA Champions League format in place until 2024, a number of complications stand in the way of such a quick start.
What has been said?
Neither Liverpool nor Manchester United have publicly commented yet.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, FIFA said: “FIFA does not wish to comment on or participate in any speculation on issues that arise from time to time and, for which institutional structures and regulatory frameworks are well established at the national level, European and global level. “
‘Edge out of the national leagues’
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Bryan Swanson of Sky Sports News:
“Think of the impact this would have on the Premier League and other national competitions; think of the race for the top four and the compelling drama it can bring. The advantage would be taken away at the national level if it really didn’t matter because those big clubs knew they were competing in the top European competition anyway.
“UEFA controls the Champions League and the Europa League, but it also has competitions like the Nations League and the European Championships. So, could any player who participates in a new Premier be denied the right to compete in the European Championships? European League?
“It’s a possibility. This could get very complicated, or a compromise could be reached.”
Neville: Plans ‘another football injury’
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Sky sports Expert Gary Neville says the amounts of money discussed to fund the proposed new league, at a time when areas of the English game are in serious financial difficulty, are reflected poorly on a Premier League that has yet to agree on a support package. for EFL teams.
He said Sky Sports News: “The big problem I have with this is that right now, in the middle of a pandemic and when football is on its knees at so many different levels, the FA, the EFL clubs and the non-league clubs are struggling.” . the idea that a $ 6 billion package is being put together to establish a new league as lower clubs struggle to pay salaries and continue to exist.
“It’s another wound for football. It doesn’t seem like the right time to talk about this. The leak is probably not going to suit Manchester United or Liverpool at the moment as they are seen as the big bad bullies.”
“I am in favor of the progression of football, with new competitions and new formats, but we have to take care of the fabric of the game and what it means for the communities of this country.
“There is a position, potentially, for a new European League and an incredible Premier League, a fantastically competitive EFL and funded and out-of-the-league grassroots football. There is enough money.”
“If they can raise $ 6 billion for a European league, then they can raise £ 150- £ 200 million to save the rest of football in this country.”
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