In the wake of a European Court of Justice ruling that UEFA breached EU law in blocking the European Super League, A22 Sports Management, the promoters behind the breakaway league, have announced groundbreaking plans for a new 64-team men’s tournament. A22 Sports Management, established in late 2022 to revive the Super League after its initial setback in April 2021, presented a vision of a competition featuring promotion and relegation, set to be broadcast live for free on a revolutionary streaming platform called Unify.
A22 CEO Bernd Reichart declared in a streamed video presentation that the tournament signifies football’s liberation from UEFA’s monopoly, enabling the pursuit of innovative ideas without fear of sanctions. The new proposal outlines a tournament structure with 64 teams divided into three leagues: the top Star league with 16 clubs, the Gold league with 16 clubs, and the Blue league with 32 clubs.
Reichart emphasized that participation would be solely based on sporting merit, with no permanent members, and clubs committed to their domestic leagues. The proposed format guarantees each participating club 14 matches before progressing to the knockout stages. A22 pledged a minimum of 400 million euros ($439 million) in solidarity payments to European clubs, more than double the current amount distributed by UEFA.
The plan includes a 32-team women’s competition, and matches would be scheduled during midweek, coinciding with existing UEFA competitions like the Champions League. A22 envisions generating income for the tournament through various channels, including advertising, premium subscriptions, distribution partnerships, interactive services, and sponsorships.
While A22 did not provide specific details about when the tournament might commence or the level of club support, the announcement marks a bold step toward reshaping the landscape of European football.