Supporters of Borussia Dortmund used the match against Newcastle as a protest against the new Champions League structure, which will take effect for the 2024–25 season.
The competition will switch from group stages to a single league, or the Swiss system, among other modifications. There will be more games because there will be 36 teams instead of 32 in the championship tournament.
Although the new format has been known for some time, Dortmund supporters took their annoyance out on the field in that specific game by flinging simulated money, gold, and tennis balls.
“You don’t care about the sport; all you care about is money” was written on a banner hanging on one of the stands. Below it was another banner featuring the faces of former Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli, UEFA president Gianni Infantino, and PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi in caricatures.
Despite Agnelli’s disagreement with the other two when the Super League concept was floated in 2021, the three men together represent one of the most influential groups in European football.
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