Europe’s big clubs go to war with its big leagues over Super League look-a-like talk

By Andrew Warshaw

April 26 – Potentially explosive plans to overhaul the Champions League post-2024 and turn it into the nearest thing yet to a much-debated European Super League are causing an unprecedented rift between Europe’s clubs and leagues as well as threatening to destabilise the main stakeholders within the entire European football landscape.

Although the European Clubs Association insists the proposed changes being discussed with UEFA would not represent a much-feared closed league, Europe’s clubs have been invited to a pivotal session in Malta in early June to discuss a new system involving promotion and relegation which critics charge would make the qualifying competition far harder for smaller clubs.

More than 200 clubs have been invited to the June 5/6 session – interestingly the same date national associations will be attending the FIFA Congress in Paris – on the future of UEFA competition including the idea of a so-called “pyramidal Pan European League System.”

In a letter to the clubs, ECA chairman Andrea Agnelli (pictured) said the meeting would discuss “some principles we feel are fundamental to the future of European football and around which we will seek to work with UEFA to evolve the club competitions.”

Agnelli’s letter insisted discussions with UEFA were still at an early stage. “Disappointingly, a great deal of incorrect speculation and rumour has appeared in the media and from some other stakeholders over the past few weeks,” wrote the president of Serie A champions Juventus.

Agnelli did not spell out precisely how teams could qualify from their domestic competitions for the revamped system but the proposals have run into strong opposition from the English, French and Spanish leagues, as well as the European Leagues, the umbrella organisation for the entire pan-European league system.

In a remarkable denunciation of the leagues’ position, Agnelli’s letter, seen by Insideworldfootball and other media organisations,  all but urged ECA members to boycott an earlier counter-meeting being organised on May 6 and 7 in Madrid by the European Leagues.

“I am well aware that the European Leagues, under the auspices of La Liga, have invited a large number of European clubs to attend a ‘Club Advisory Platform’ meeting in Madrid on 6-7 May to discuss developments in European football and specifically those linked to the period after 2024,” he wrote.

“I can only assume that, at this meeting, further allegations and misconceptions will be put forth in the interests of preserving the status quo, without any attempt to understand the strategy and vision that ECA and UEFA are shaping for your collective input.”

“The focus of club discussions on competition matters should remain driven and co-ordinated by ECA member clubs.  ECA is recognised formally by UEFA as the body representing Clubs’ interests. We believe, therefore, that it is not appropriate for European Leagues to be inviting ECA members and we recommend that you not attend this meeting.”

“In the event that you do deem your presence worthwhile, we would ask that you insist not to be associated in any formal manner with any communication that may arise from the meeting – as the European Leagues will surely try to do.  “

In a scathing, no-holds-barred reply, European Leagues’ normally mild-mannered president Lars-Christer Olsson lambasted Agnelli’s tone as well as his “false accusations”.

“I believe that our member leagues and their member clubs are grown up enough to make their own judgements without getting “orders” from the ECA-President,” Olsson charged as the rift became personal.

Referring to Agnelli’s declaration that the ECA is recognised as the sole body representing club’s interests, Olsson suggested that if that interpretation is true, “the overall UEFA decision making structure must be reconsidered because otherwise it may lead to an abuse of dominant position.”

Olsson went even further, suggesting that national associations and leagues “represent the clubs´ interests to an even greater extent than ECA.”

Olsson said the European Leagues would prepare its own proposal for the future of continental competition and “you (leagues and clubs) will be able to judge for yourselves which model will be the best.”

“The European Leagues has always been in favour of proper governance, stakeholder inclusion and transparency in its own decision making and for decisions made regarding European football. The Madrid meeting is a very important one where we will be able to give all clubs the opportunity to speak.”

“Do not forget that it is the Football Associations that ‘own’ UEFA who will take the final decision.”

Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1711663381labto1711663381ofdlr1711663381owedi1711663381sni@w1711663381ahsra1711663381w.wer1711663381dna1711663381