Rangers and Celtic support UEFA wholeheartedly, but rebellious plots are gaining traction again.
The idea and plans for a breakaway league for Europe’s elite were widely condemned by the football community in 2021, but teams like Barcelona, Juventus, and Real Madrid are still keen to push plans home.
Sports Management group A22 has proposed a new format featuring 64 European teams, and they have been buoyed by the European Court of Justice ruling in December that UEFA and FIFA were wrong to block plans for the breakaway league almost three years ago. Rangers and Celtic have been made aware of a new poll suggesting a portion of football fans are supporting the new European Super League plans.
French company Opinion Way have been commissioned by the competition’s promoters to survey fans across Europe and how they viewed the new proposals. 65% of of 835 UK fans polled were FOR the new proposals, with support high amongst Chelsea and Man City fans. 509 of the UK fans were down as supporters of the original ‘big six’ English clubs that tried to get the Super League off the ground.
Across the whole poll, 72% were in favour or somewhat in favour of a new format proposed by A22. Support was at its peak in the younger age group through a high score, of 86% from the 956 15 to 24-year-olds saying yes.
A22 chief executive Bernd Reichart said: “We have evidence that the desire for a European Super League as a much more exciting alternative to the current European club football competition is stronger than ever.”
Celtic said in December that ‘The wider European football community is not supportive of the ESL, and Celtic, like many other clubs, will continue to promote the interests and protection of football’s broader family through the ECA and UEFA.’ Rangers were in agreement and claimed ‘We will continue to work with ECA and UEFA to uphold the true principles of European football.’
La Liga boss Javier Tebas is firmly against it. He said at the Football Summit in London: “A22 want a few clubs, with the most assets, the richest clubs – to dominate the European football eco-system. This model is even worse than the 2019 model. We said ‘no’ to that and we say ‘no’ to this one.”
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