{"id":19968,"date":"2021-04-19T01:05:07","date_gmt":"2021-04-19T06:05:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/?p=19968"},"modified":"2021-04-19T02:04:15","modified_gmt":"2021-04-19T07:04:15","slug":"12-european-football-teams-to-form-breakaway-super-league-throwing-elite-game-into-turmoil","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/?p=19968","title":{"rendered":"12 European football teams to form breakaway &#8216;Super League&#8217; throwing elite game into turmoil"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"css-1vkm6nb ehdk2mb0\">\n<header class=\"post-meta meta\">\n<h1 class=\"post-header\">Leading European football clubs announce new Super League competition<\/h1>\n<p class=\"post-author author\"><a class=\"post-author-twitter\" href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/LFC\"> <i class=\"fa icon-twitter-squared IconStyling\"><\/i><span class=\"AuthorStyling\">LFC<\/span> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/header>\n<section class=\"post-body\">\n<p class=\"post-synopsis synopsis\">Liverpool Football Club can confirm that we have joined Europe&#8217;s leading clubs in agreeing to form a new competition, the European Super League.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad-inner-banner partial\">\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-RES_MAIN_NEWS_INNER_STORY\">\n<div><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-19974\" src=\"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/lfc.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/lfc.jpg 200w, https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/lfc-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>A joint statement released by all 12 founding clubs can be found below, with further information being made available in due course.<\/p>\n<p>We are committed to working with all stakeholders, particularly supporters, as plans for the competition develop.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Twelve of Europe\u2019s leading football clubs have today come together to announce they have agreed to establish a new mid-week competition, the Super League, governed by its Founding Clubs.<\/p>\n<p>AC Milan, Arsenal FC, Atl\u00e9tico de Madrid, Chelsea FC, FC Barcelona, FC Internazionale Milano, Juventus FC, Liverpool FC, Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid CF and Tottenham Hotspur have all joined as Founding Clubs. It is anticipated that a further three clubs will join ahead of the inaugural season, which is intended to commence as soon as practicable.<\/p>\n<p>Going forward, the Founding Clubs look forward to holding discussions with UEFA and FIFA to work together in partnership to deliver the best outcomes for the new League and for football as a whole.<\/p>\n<p>The formation of the Super League comes at a time when the global pandemic has accelerated the instability in the existing European football economic model. Further, for a number of years, the Founding Clubs have had the objective of improving the quality and intensity of existing European competitions throughout each season, and of creating a format for top clubs and players to compete on a regular basis.<\/p>\n<p>The pandemic has shown that a strategic vision and a sustainable commercial approach are required to enhance value and support for the benefit of the entire European football pyramid. In recent months extensive dialogue has taken place with football stakeholders regarding the future format of European competitions. The Founding Clubs believe the solutions proposed following these talks do not solve fundamental issues, including the need to provide higher-quality matches and additional financial resources for the overall football pyramid.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Competition Format<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>20 participating clubs with 15 Founding Clubs and a qualifying mechanism for a further five teams to qualify annually based on achievements in the prior season.<\/li>\n<li>Midweek fixtures with all participating clubs continuing to compete in their respective national leagues, preserving the traditional domestic match calendar which remains at the heart of the club game.<\/li>\n<li>An August start with clubs participating in two groups of ten, playing home and away fixtures, with the top three in each group automatically qualifying for the quarter finals. Teams finishing fourth and fifth will then compete in a two-legged play-off for the remaining quarter-final positions. A two-leg knockout format will be used to reach the final at the end of May, which will be staged as a single fixture at a neutral venue.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>As soon as practicable after the start of the men\u2019s competition, a corresponding women\u2019s league will also be launched, helping to advance and develop the women\u2019s game.<\/p>\n<p>The new annual tournament will provide significantly greater economic growth and support for European football via a long-term commitment to uncapped solidarity payments which will grow in line with league revenues. These solidarity payments will be substantially higher than those generated by the current European competition and are expected to be in excess of \u20ac10 billion during the course of the initial commitment period of the Clubs. In addition, the competition will be built on a sustainable financial foundation with all Founding Clubs signing up to a spending framework. In exchange for their commitment, Founding Clubs will receive an amount of \u20ac3.5 billion solely to support their infrastructure investment plans and to offset the impact of the COVID pandemic.<\/p>\n<p>Florentino P\u00e9rez, President Real Madrid CF and the first Chairman of the Super League said:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe will help football at every level and take it to its rightful place in the world. Football is the only global sport in the world with more than four billion fans and our responsibility as big clubs is to respond to their desires.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Backing the new European league, Andrea Agnelli, Chairman of Juventus and Vice-Chairman of the Super League said:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur 12 Founder clubs represent billions of fans across the globe and 99 European trophies. We have come together at this critical moment, enabling European competition to be transformed, putting the game we love on a sustainable footing for the long-term future, substantially increasing solidarity, and giving fans and amateur players a regular flow of headline fixtures that will feed their passion for the game while providing them with engaging role models.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Joel Glazer, Co-Chairman of Manchester United and Vice-Chairman of the Super League said:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBy bringing together the world\u2019s greatest clubs and players to play each other throughout the season, the Super League will open a new chapter for European football, ensuring world-class competition and facilities, and increased financial support for the wider football pyramid.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<h1 id=\"link-579f62bb\" class=\"css-rsa88z e1h9rw200\" data-test-id=\"headline\">Top European Soccer Teams Form Breakaway League<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"article-summary\" class=\"css-w6ymp8 e1wiw3jv0\"><strong>Real Madrid, Manchester United, Liverpool and Juventus are among the dozen founding members of a league that would upend the sport\u2019s structures and economics.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"css-imt2jv ehw59r12\" data-testid=\"photoviewer-children\">\n<div class=\"css-tux0zj ehw59r13\" data-testid=\"photoviewer-overlay\">\n<div class=\"css-1faqgcr ehw59r14\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"css-8h527k\">\n<div data-testid=\"lazyimage-container\"><strong><picture class=\"css-1j5kxti\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/04\/18\/sports\/18soccer-superleague-liverpool\/merlin_186425688_ab30b577-6dda-4556-94b9-9f7cf8f2861b-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;disable=upscale&amp;width=600\" media=\"(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 3),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 3dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 288dpi)\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/04\/18\/sports\/18soccer-superleague-liverpool\/merlin_186425688_ab30b577-6dda-4556-94b9-9f7cf8f2861b-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;disable=upscale&amp;width=1200\" media=\"(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 2),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 2dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 192dpi)\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/04\/18\/sports\/18soccer-superleague-liverpool\/merlin_186425688_ab30b577-6dda-4556-94b9-9f7cf8f2861b-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;disable=upscale&amp;width=1800\" media=\"(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 1),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 1dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 96dpi)\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/04\/18\/sports\/18soccer-superleague-liverpool\/merlin_186425688_ab30b577-6dda-4556-94b9-9f7cf8f2861b-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;disable=upscale\" sizes=\"((min-width: 600px) and (max-width: 1004px)) 84vw, (min-width: 1005px) 80vw, 100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/04\/18\/sports\/18soccer-superleague-liverpool\/merlin_186425688_ab30b577-6dda-4556-94b9-9f7cf8f2861b-articleLarge.jpg?quality=90&amp;auto=webp 600w,https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/04\/18\/sports\/18soccer-superleague-liverpool\/merlin_186425688_ab30b577-6dda-4556-94b9-9f7cf8f2861b-jumbo.jpg?quality=90&amp;auto=webp 1024w,https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/04\/18\/sports\/18soccer-superleague-liverpool\/merlin_186425688_ab30b577-6dda-4556-94b9-9f7cf8f2861b-superJumbo.jpg?quality=90&amp;auto=webp 2048w\" alt=\"\" \/><\/picture><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<header class=\"css-1novkui euiyums0\">\n<div class=\"css-79elbk\" data-testid=\"photoviewer-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"css-1a48zt4 ehw59r15\" data-testid=\"photoviewer-children\">\n<figure class=\"sizeLarge layoutHorizontal css-1ox9jel\" role=\"group\" aria-label=\"media\">\n<div class=\"css-bsn42l\"><strong><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/04\/18\/sports\/18soccer-superleague-liverpool\/merlin_186425688_ab30b577-6dda-4556-94b9-9f7cf8f2861b-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;disable=upscale&amp;width=600\" media=\"(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 3),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 3dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 288dpi)\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/04\/18\/sports\/18soccer-superleague-liverpool\/merlin_186425688_ab30b577-6dda-4556-94b9-9f7cf8f2861b-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;disable=upscale&amp;width=1200\" media=\"(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 2),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 2dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 192dpi)\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/04\/18\/sports\/18soccer-superleague-liverpool\/merlin_186425688_ab30b577-6dda-4556-94b9-9f7cf8f2861b-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;disable=upscale&amp;width=1800\" media=\"(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 1),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 1dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 96dpi)\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"css-11cwn6f\" src=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/04\/18\/sports\/18soccer-superleague-liverpool\/merlin_186425688_ab30b577-6dda-4556-94b9-9f7cf8f2861b-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;disable=upscale\" sizes=\"((min-width: 600px) and (max-width: 1004px)) 84vw, (min-width: 1005px) 80vw, 100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/04\/18\/sports\/18soccer-superleague-liverpool\/merlin_186425688_ab30b577-6dda-4556-94b9-9f7cf8f2861b-articleLarge.jpg?quality=90&amp;auto=webp 600w,https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/04\/18\/sports\/18soccer-superleague-liverpool\/merlin_186425688_ab30b577-6dda-4556-94b9-9f7cf8f2861b-jumbo.jpg?quality=90&amp;auto=webp 1024w,https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/04\/18\/sports\/18soccer-superleague-liverpool\/merlin_186425688_ab30b577-6dda-4556-94b9-9f7cf8f2861b-superJumbo.jpg?quality=90&amp;auto=webp 2048w\" alt=\"Real Madrid and Liverpool are among the teams said to have committed to a breakaway league.\" \/><\/picture><\/strong><\/div><figcaption class=\"css-17ai7jg e18f7pbr0\"><strong><span class=\"css-16f3y1r e13ogyst0\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Real Madrid and Liverpool are among the teams said to have committed to a breakaway league.<\/span><span class=\"css-cnj6d5 e1z0qqy90\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<section class=\"meteredContent css-1r7ky0e\">\n<div class=\"css-1fanzo5 StoryBodyCompanionColumn\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-axufdj evys1bk0\"><strong>A dozen of the world\u2019s richest and most storied soccer clubs on Sunday announced that they had formed a breakaway European club competition that would, if it comes to fruition, upend the structures, economics and relationships that have bound global soccer for nearly a century.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"css-axufdj evys1bk0\"><strong>After months of secret talks, the breakaway teams \u2014 which include Real Madrid and Barcelona in Spain; Manchester United and Liverpool in England; and Juventus and A.C. Milan in Italy \u2014 confirmed their plans late Sunday. They said they planned to add at least three more founding members, hold midweek matches that would put the league in direct competition with the existing Champions League, and begin play \u201cas soon as practicable.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"css-axufdj evys1bk0\"><strong>\u201cWe will help football at every level and take it to its rightful place in the world,\u201d said Real Madrid\u2019s president, Florentino P\u00e9rez, who was named <a class=\"css-1g7m0tk\" title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/realmadrid\/status\/1383909135054299136\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">the first chairman<\/a> of what the clubs were calling the Super League.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"related-links-block css-1j2g5xc epkadsg3\">\n<div class=\"css-1jghw14 epkadsg2\">\n<div class=\"css-1q1d7up e16ij5yr7\">\n<div class=\"css-1pksd7f e16ij5yr0\"><strong><img class=\"css-1p6jru7 e16ij5yr1\" sizes=\"(max-width:740px) 75px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/04\/18\/sports\/18onsoccer-henry\/18onsoccer-henry-thumbStandard.jpg 75w, https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/04\/18\/sports\/18onsoccer-henry\/18onsoccer-henry-threeByTwoSmallAt2X.jpg\" \/><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1fanzo5 StoryBodyCompanionColumn\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-axufdj evys1bk0\"><strong>The league they have agreed to form \u2014 an alliance of top clubs closer in concept to closed leagues like the N.F.L. and the N.B.A. than soccer\u2019s current model \u2014 would bring about the most significant restructuring of elite European soccer since the 1950s, and could herald the largest transfer of wealth to a small set of teams in modern sports history.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"><\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-8atqhb\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1fanzo5 StoryBodyCompanionColumn\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-axufdj evys1bk0\"><strong>In its current form, European soccer supplements domestic league play \u2014 an English league for English teams, a Spanish one for Spanish clubs \u2014 with Continental competitions between the best clubs. The most prestigious of those, the Champions League, brings together the best teams from each domestic league each year to play for the title of Europe\u2019s, and arguably the world\u2019s, best club.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"css-axufdj evys1bk0\"><strong>The current system funnels hundreds of millions of dollars of annual television and sponsorship revenue to the world\u2019s richest clubs, which supplement their domestic revenue with multimillion-dollar payouts from the Champions League. But the format also sustains smaller teams in each country, which benefit from the gloss of their encounters with the giants and share in the money those teams bring in from broadcasters.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"css-axufdj evys1bk0\"><strong>The new superleague model would change that, by stripping the Champions League of its most attractive and most successful teams and effectively walling off the richest clubs in their own closed competition \u2014 and allowing them to split the billions of dollars in annual revenue among themselves. According to the Super League\u2019s announcement, the founding clubs will split 3.5 billion euros (almost $4.2 billion) for signing on to establish \u201ca sustainable financial foundation.\u201d The per-team figure means each founding club will receive about $400 million \u2014 more than four times what the Champions League winner took home <a class=\"css-1g7m0tk\" title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.uefa.com\/insideuefa\/stakeholders\/news\/0253-0f8e6d83afa2-0904576faee6-1000--2019-20-uefa-club-competitions-revenue-distribution-system\/?referrer=%2Finsideuefa%2Fstakeholders%2Fclubs%2Fnews%2Fnewsid%3D2616265\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">in 2020<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"css-axufdj evys1bk0\"><strong>The 12 teams that signed up as founders are, for the moment, limited to a dozen clubs from Spain, Italy and England. A cohort of six teams from the Premier League \u2014 United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham \u2014 represents the biggest grouping from a single country. Atl\u00e9tico Madrid is the other team from Spain that is said to have endorsed the project, while the Milan rivals Internazionale and A.C. Milan would join Juventus as Italy\u2019s representatives.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-8atqhb\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1fanzo5 StoryBodyCompanionColumn\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-axufdj evys1bk0\"><strong>Three more clubs will join as founding \u2014 and thus permanent \u2014 members, organizers said, and a qualifying mechanism will be created to fill the five other places in the 20-team Super League each season.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"css-axufdj evys1bk0\"><strong>A women\u2019s league will be started as well, the announcement said, presumably including the women\u2019s sides of many of the same clubs.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"css-axufdj evys1bk0\"><strong>European soccer officials moved quickly to try to block the project. The Premier League <a class=\"css-1g7m0tk\" title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/PLComms\/status\/1383802362133766152?s=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">condemned the concept<\/a> in a statement on Sunday and also sent a letter to its 20 member clubs warning them not to take part. Officials at European soccer\u2019s governing body, UEFA, which runs the Champions League, labeled the proposal for a closed superleague a \u201ccynical project\u201d in a statement.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"css-axufdj evys1bk0\"><strong>The missive was co-signed by the Premier League, La Liga in Spain and Italy\u2019s Serie A, as well as the soccer federations of each country. Within hours, France\u2019s federation and the French league had added their voices to <a class=\"css-1g7m0tk\" title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lfp.fr\/Articles\/COMMUNIQU%C3%89S\/2021\/04\/18\/communique-de-la-fff-et-de-la-lfp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">the growing opposition<\/a> inside key <a class=\"css-1g7m0tk\" title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ECAEurope\/status\/1383879589739393030?s=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">European soccer circles<\/a>. Politicians, including Britain\u2019s prime minister, Boris Johnson, and the French president, Emmanuel Macron, also weighed in to denounce the plans.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"><\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-nj25e3\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-cards=\"\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\"><strong>Now a joint statement from UEFA, English, Spanish and Italian FAs and leagues in those three countries to say they are determined to stop \u201cthis cynical project\u201d. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Wgay6qMWeK\">pic.twitter.com\/Wgay6qMWeK<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2014 tariq panja (@tariqpanja) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/tariqpanja\/status\/1383803092034932746?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 18, 2021<\/a><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1fanzo5 StoryBodyCompanionColumn\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-axufdj evys1bk0\"><strong>But UEFA was taking the threat seriously. Its leaders spent the weekend in discussions about how to block the plan, including banning the breakaway teams from their domestic leagues and blocking their players from competing for their national teams in events like the World Cup. European officials also pointedly reminded the prospective superleague clubs (and, effectively, their players) that soccer\u2019s global governing body, FIFA, has backed their threats of expulsion.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"css-axufdj evys1bk0\"><strong>FIFA on Sunday expressed its \u201cdisapproval\u201d of the concept of a closed league, but refrained from the type of threats being lobbed by top officials in Europe.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"><\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-8atqhb\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1fanzo5 StoryBodyCompanionColumn\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-axufdj evys1bk0\"><strong>\u201cWe will consider all measures available to us, at all levels, both judicial and sporting in order to prevent this happening,\u201d <a class=\"css-1g7m0tk\" title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/UEFA\/status\/1383803049647345668?s=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">the UEFA statement said<\/a>. \u201cFootball is based on open competitions and sporting merit; it cannot be any other way.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"NYT_MAIN_CONTENT_2_REGION\" class=\"css-9tf9ac\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"css-bdfzry\">\n<div class=\"css-1q1hscp\">\n<div class=\"css-1xk4eoy\">\n<div id=\"SP\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1q8sr0j\">\n<div class=\"css-1ibyhwt\">\n<div class=\"css-azx95j\">\n<div class=\"css-1ds2y4q\"><strong><span class=\"css-xokhaa\">Sign up for the Sports Newsletter: <\/span><span class=\"css-1uk1gs8\">Get our most ambitious projects, stories and analysis delivered to your inbox every week.<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"css-1fanzo5 StoryBodyCompanionColumn\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-axufdj evys1bk0\"><strong>At the same time, soccer officials also began contacting lawmakers at the European Union, hoping the bloc would be able to strengthen its hand in preserving the status quo.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"><\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-79elbk\" data-testid=\"photoviewer-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"css-z3e15g\" data-testid=\"photoviewer-wrapper-hidden\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"css-cd1blf ehw59r12\" data-testid=\"photoviewer-children\">\n<div class=\"css-tux0zj ehw59r13\" data-testid=\"photoviewer-overlay\">\n<div class=\"css-1u1ae ehw59r11\" data-testid=\"photoviewer-captionblock\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1yaqbc8 ehw59r14\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"css-8h527k\">\n<div data-testid=\"lazyimage-container\"><strong><picture class=\"css-1j5kxti\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/04\/18\/sports\/18soccer-superleague2\/18soccer-superleague2-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;disable=upscale&amp;width=600\" media=\"(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 3),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 3dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 288dpi)\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/04\/18\/sports\/18soccer-superleague2\/18soccer-superleague2-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;disable=upscale&amp;width=1200\" media=\"(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 2),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 2dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 192dpi)\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/04\/18\/sports\/18soccer-superleague2\/18soccer-superleague2-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;disable=upscale&amp;width=1800\" media=\"(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 1),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 1dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 96dpi)\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/04\/18\/sports\/18soccer-superleague2\/18soccer-superleague2-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;disable=upscale\" sizes=\"((min-width: 600px) and (max-width: 1004px)) 84vw, (min-width: 1005px) 80vw, 100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/04\/18\/sports\/18soccer-superleague2\/18soccer-superleague2-articleLarge.jpg?quality=90&amp;auto=webp 600w,https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/04\/18\/sports\/18soccer-superleague2\/18soccer-superleague2-jumbo.jpg?quality=90&amp;auto=webp 1024w,https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/04\/18\/sports\/18soccer-superleague2\/18soccer-superleague2-superJumbo.jpg?quality=90&amp;auto=webp 2048w\" alt=\"\" \/><\/picture><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-79elbk\" data-testid=\"photoviewer-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"css-1a48zt4 ehw59r15\" data-testid=\"photoviewer-children\">\n<figure class=\"css-1ef8w8q e1g7ppur0\" role=\"group\" aria-label=\"media\">\n<div class=\"css-1xdhyk6 erfvjey0\"><strong><span class=\"css-1ly73wi e1tej78p0\">Image<\/span><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/04\/18\/sports\/18soccer-superleague2\/18soccer-superleague2-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;disable=upscale&amp;width=600\" media=\"(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 3),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 3dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 288dpi)\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/04\/18\/sports\/18soccer-superleague2\/18soccer-superleague2-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;disable=upscale&amp;width=1200\" media=\"(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 2),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 2dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 192dpi)\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/04\/18\/sports\/18soccer-superleague2\/18soccer-superleague2-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;disable=upscale&amp;width=1800\" media=\"(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 1),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 1dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 96dpi)\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"css-1m50asq\" src=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/04\/18\/sports\/18soccer-superleague2\/18soccer-superleague2-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;disable=upscale\" sizes=\"((min-width: 600px) and (max-width: 1004px)) 84vw, (min-width: 1005px) 80vw, 100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/04\/18\/sports\/18soccer-superleague2\/18soccer-superleague2-articleLarge.jpg?quality=90&amp;auto=webp 600w,https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/04\/18\/sports\/18soccer-superleague2\/18soccer-superleague2-jumbo.jpg?quality=90&amp;auto=webp 1024w,https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/04\/18\/sports\/18soccer-superleague2\/18soccer-superleague2-superJumbo.jpg?quality=90&amp;auto=webp 2048w\" alt=\"The president of Juventus, Andrea Agnelli, has worked behind the scenes to round up allies for his superleague plan.\" \/><\/picture><\/strong><\/div><figcaption class=\"css-18crmh6 ewdxa0s0\"><strong><span class=\"css-16f3y1r e13ogyst0\" aria-hidden=\"true\">The president of Juventus, Andrea Agnelli, has worked behind the scenes to round up allies for his superleague plan.<\/span><span class=\"css-cnj6d5 e1z0qqy90\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1fanzo5 StoryBodyCompanionColumn\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-axufdj evys1bk0\"><strong>The leaders of the breakaway group have been trying to get other top teams, like Germany\u2019s Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund and the French champion Paris St.-Germain, to commit. But to date those clubs \u2014 and others \u2014 have declined to walk away from the domestic structures and continental competitions that have underpinned European soccer for generations.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"css-axufdj evys1bk0\"><strong>Their concerns can be political and financial. P.S.G.\u2019s president, Nasser al-Khelaifi, sits on the UEFA board, for example, and also heads beIN Media Group, the Qatar-based television network that has paid millions of dollars for the broadcast rights to games in the Champions League and various domestic competitions.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"css-axufdj evys1bk0\"><strong>The Premier League wrote to its 20 clubs after its board meeting on Sunday, though, warning the teams that the league\u2019s rules bar clubs from joining outside competitions without approval.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"css-axufdj evys1bk0\"><strong>\u201cThis venture cannot be launched without English clubs and we call upon any club contemplating associating themselves or joining this venture to walk away immediately before irreparable damage is done,\u201d it said in a letter to the teams.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"><\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-8atqhb\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1fanzo5 StoryBodyCompanionColumn\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-axufdj evys1bk0\"><strong>The timing of Sunday\u2019s news appeared designed to overshadow UEFA\u2019s plan to ratify a newly designed Champions League on Monday. That competition would be ravaged by the departure of its biggest teams.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"><\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"related-links-block css-1j2g5xc epkadsg3\">\n<div class=\"css-1xdhyk6 epkadsg2\">\n<div class=\"css-1q1d7up e16ij5yr7\">\n<div class=\"css-1pksd7f e16ij5yr0\"><strong><img class=\"css-1p6jru7 e16ij5yr1\" sizes=\"(max-width:740px) 75px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/03\/28\/us\/champions-league-new-format-promo-1616973594310\/champions-league-new-format-promo-1616973594310-thumbStandard-v3.jpg 75w, https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/03\/28\/us\/champions-league-new-format-promo-1616973594310\/champions-league-new-format-promo-1616973594310-threeByTwoSmallAt2X-v2.jpg\" \/><\/strong><\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1l19kgc e16ij5yr5\">\n<div class=\"css-bpyxdq e16ij5yr3\"><strong>The Champions League Is Changing. Here\u2019s How It Will Work.<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1fanzo5 StoryBodyCompanionColumn\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-axufdj evys1bk0\"><strong>The repercussions of a split between European soccer and its best-known, best-followed and most deep-pocketed clubs would be seismic. Without the top teams, UEFA and the domestic leagues would face demands for millions of dollars in refunds from the broadcasters who pay billions for television rights to air their tournaments. The clubs left out would face a serious blow to their budgets while many are still wrestling with the financial wreckage caused by the coronavirus pandemic. And any ban on national team play would affect players individually, even if they had no role in the decision-making.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"css-axufdj evys1bk0\"><strong>Among the most notable teams involved in the breakaway group is Juventus, the serial Italian champion. Its chairman, Andrea Agnelli, had been until Sunday \u2014 when he resigned from both posts \u2014 a member of UEFA\u2019s executive board and also the head of the European Club Association, an umbrella body for more than 200 top division clubs, the majority of which will be left out of the proposed Super League.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"css-axufdj evys1bk0\"><strong>When asked by The New York Times this year to discuss his role in the talks of a breakaway league, Agnelli brushed off the idea as a \u201crumor.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"css-axufdj evys1bk0\"><strong>Still, according to documents reviewed by The Times in January, plans for the breakaway league had gathered pace since last summer. Top clubs sought to take advantage of uncertainty in the soccer industry caused by the pandemic to forge a new path that would ensure a degree of financial stability for them but would also almost certainly lead to a significant \u2014 and potentially devastating \u2014 loss in value and revenue for the teams excluded from the project.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"css-axufdj evys1bk0\"><strong>Each of the would-be permanent members of the proposed superleague was promised 350 million euros, or $425 million, to sign up, <a class=\"css-1g7m0tk\" title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2021\/01\/21\/sports\/super-league-fifa-world-cup.html\">the documents said<\/a>. The group leading the effort had entered into discussions with JPMorgan Chase to raise financing for the project, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The firm has so far declined to comment.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"><\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-8atqhb\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"css-79elbk\" data-testid=\"photoviewer-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"css-z3e15g\" data-testid=\"photoviewer-wrapper-hidden\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"css-imt2jv ehw59r12\" data-testid=\"photoviewer-children\">\n<div class=\"css-tux0zj ehw59r13\" data-testid=\"photoviewer-overlay\">\n<div class=\"css-1os5lh8 ehw59r11\" data-testid=\"photoviewer-captionblock\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1faqgcr ehw59r14\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"css-8h527k\">\n<div data-testid=\"lazyimage-container\"><strong><picture class=\"css-1j5kxti\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/04\/18\/sports\/18soccer-superleague-manch\/merlin_181178487_5bee76d5-4541-4301-9fae-7e6582e76c1e-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;disable=upscale&amp;width=600\" media=\"(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 3),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 3dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 288dpi)\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/04\/18\/sports\/18soccer-superleague-manch\/merlin_181178487_5bee76d5-4541-4301-9fae-7e6582e76c1e-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;disable=upscale&amp;width=1200\" media=\"(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 2),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 2dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 192dpi)\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/04\/18\/sports\/18soccer-superleague-manch\/merlin_181178487_5bee76d5-4541-4301-9fae-7e6582e76c1e-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;disable=upscale&amp;width=1800\" media=\"(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 1),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 1dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 96dpi)\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/04\/18\/sports\/18soccer-superleague-manch\/merlin_181178487_5bee76d5-4541-4301-9fae-7e6582e76c1e-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;disable=upscale\" sizes=\"((min-width: 600px) and (max-width: 1004px)) 84vw, (min-width: 1005px) 80vw, 100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/04\/18\/sports\/18soccer-superleague-manch\/merlin_181178487_5bee76d5-4541-4301-9fae-7e6582e76c1e-articleLarge.jpg?quality=90&amp;auto=webp 600w,https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/04\/18\/sports\/18soccer-superleague-manch\/merlin_181178487_5bee76d5-4541-4301-9fae-7e6582e76c1e-jumbo.jpg?quality=90&amp;auto=webp 1024w,https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/04\/18\/sports\/18soccer-superleague-manch\/merlin_181178487_5bee76d5-4541-4301-9fae-7e6582e76c1e-superJumbo.jpg?quality=90&amp;auto=webp 2048w\" alt=\"\" \/><\/picture><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"meteredContent css-1r7ky0e\">\n<div class=\"css-79elbk\" data-testid=\"photoviewer-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"css-1a48zt4 ehw59r15\" data-testid=\"photoviewer-children\">\n<figure class=\"css-1ef8w8q e1g7ppur0\" role=\"group\" aria-label=\"media\">\n<div class=\"css-1xdhyk6 erfvjey0\">\n<p><strong><span class=\"css-1ly73wi e1tej78p0\">Image<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"css-8h527k\">\n<div data-testid=\"lazyimage-container\"><strong><picture class=\"css-1j5kxti\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/04\/18\/sports\/18soccer-superleague-manch\/merlin_181178487_5bee76d5-4541-4301-9fae-7e6582e76c1e-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;disable=upscale&amp;width=600\" media=\"(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 3),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 3dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 288dpi)\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/04\/18\/sports\/18soccer-superleague-manch\/merlin_181178487_5bee76d5-4541-4301-9fae-7e6582e76c1e-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;disable=upscale&amp;width=1200\" media=\"(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 2),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 2dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 192dpi)\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/04\/18\/sports\/18soccer-superleague-manch\/merlin_181178487_5bee76d5-4541-4301-9fae-7e6582e76c1e-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;disable=upscale&amp;width=1800\" media=\"(max-width: 599px) and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 1),(max-width: 599px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 1dppx),(max-width: 599px) and (min-resolution: 96dpi)\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"css-1m50asq\" src=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/04\/18\/sports\/18soccer-superleague-manch\/merlin_181178487_5bee76d5-4541-4301-9fae-7e6582e76c1e-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;disable=upscale\" sizes=\"((min-width: 600px) and (max-width: 1004px)) 84vw, (min-width: 1005px) 80vw, 100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/04\/18\/sports\/18soccer-superleague-manch\/merlin_181178487_5bee76d5-4541-4301-9fae-7e6582e76c1e-articleLarge.jpg?quality=90&amp;auto=webp 600w,https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/04\/18\/sports\/18soccer-superleague-manch\/merlin_181178487_5bee76d5-4541-4301-9fae-7e6582e76c1e-jumbo.jpg?quality=90&amp;auto=webp 1024w,https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/04\/18\/sports\/18soccer-superleague-manch\/merlin_181178487_5bee76d5-4541-4301-9fae-7e6582e76c1e-superJumbo.jpg?quality=90&amp;auto=webp 2048w\" alt=\"Manchester United and Manchester City are part of a group of six Premier League giants backing the plan.\" \/><\/picture><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"css-18crmh6 ewdxa0s0\"><strong><span class=\"css-16f3y1r e13ogyst0\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Manchester United and Manchester City are part of a group of six Premier League giants backing the plan.<\/span><span class=\"css-cnj6d5 e1z0qqy90\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1fanzo5 StoryBodyCompanionColumn\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-axufdj evys1bk0\"><strong>Earlier this year, UEFA found a powerful ally in opposition to the plans in FIFA, which <a class=\"css-1g7m0tk\" title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2021\/01\/21\/sports\/super-league-fifa-world-cup.html\">warned<\/a> that any player who took part in such an unsanctioned league would be barred from appearing in any of its tournaments, including the World Cup. The statement came after UEFA\u2019s president, Aleksander Ceferin, demanded support from his FIFA counterpart, Gianni Infantino, amid mounting speculation that the breakaway group had FIFA\u2019s support.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"css-axufdj evys1bk0\"><strong>By Sunday night, even the alliance of clubs led by Juventus\u2019s Agnelli, the E.C.A., appeared to reject his idea.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"><\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-nj25e3\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-cards=\"\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"und\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/cPXzv3YaF4\">pic.twitter.com\/cPXzv3YaF4<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2014 ECA (@ECAEurope) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ECAEurope\/status\/1383879589739393030?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 18, 2021<\/a><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1fanzo5 StoryBodyCompanionColumn\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-axufdj evys1bk0\"><strong>Significant hurdles to the plan\u2019s implementation remain. Governing bodies and leagues could follow through on their threats to expel the clubs and their players. As member-owned clubs, Barcelona and Real Madrid would most likely require the support of the thousands of their supporters before formally joining, and any German clubs that agree to take part would face similar obstacles. All can expect heavy internal opposition, too; fan groups across Europe have consistently opposed even the idea of a closed superleague.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"css-axufdj evys1bk0\"><strong>On Sunday, one umbrella fan group, Football Supporters Europe, called the superleague idea \u201cillegitimate, irresponsible, and anti-competitive by design.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"css-axufdj evys1bk0\"><strong>\u201cMore to the point, it is driven exclusively by greed,\u201d the group said. \u201cThe only ones who stand to gain are hedge funds, oligarchs and a handful of already wealthy clubs, many of which perform poorly in their own domestic leagues despite their inbuilt advantage.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"><\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"related-links-block css-1j2g5xc epkadsg3\">\n<div class=\"css-xxlsxk epkadsg0\"><strong>The Journey to a European Super League<\/strong><\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1jghw14 epkadsg2\">\n<div class=\"css-1q1d7up e16ij5yr7\">\n<div class=\"css-1pksd7f e16ij5yr0\"><strong><img class=\"css-1p6jru7 e16ij5yr1\" sizes=\"(max-width:740px) 75px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2019\/05\/09\/sports\/09soccer\/09soccer-thumbStandard.jpg 75w, https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2019\/05\/09\/sports\/09soccer\/09soccer-threeByTwoSmallAt2X.jpg\" \/><\/strong><\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1l19kgc e16ij5yr5\">\n<div class=\"css-bpyxdq e16ij5yr3\"><strong>Proposal to Restructure Champions League Leaves Out Most of Europe<\/strong><\/div>\n<div class=\"css-x7rtpa e16638kd1\"><strong>May 9, 2019<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1q1d7up e16ij5yr7\">\n<div class=\"css-1pksd7f e16ij5yr0\"><strong><img class=\"css-1p6jru7 e16ij5yr1\" sizes=\"(max-width:740px) 75px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/03\/14\/sports\/12rorynewsletter1-print\/12rorynewsletter1-print-thumbStandard-v2.jpg 75w, https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2021\/03\/14\/sports\/12rorynewsletter1-print\/12rorynewsletter1-print-threeByTwoSmallAt2X-v2.jpg\" \/><\/strong><\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1l19kgc e16ij5yr5\">\n<div class=\"css-bpyxdq e16ij5yr3\"><strong>Don\u2019t Reject the Champions League\u2019s Changes Out of Hand<\/strong><\/div>\n<div class=\"css-x7rtpa e16638kd1\"><strong>March 12, 2021<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1q1d7up e16ij5yr7\">\n<div class=\"css-1pksd7f e16ij5yr0\"><strong><img class=\"css-1p6jru7 e16ij5yr1\" sizes=\"(max-width:740px) 75px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2019\/12\/05\/sports\/05fifa\/05fifa-thumbStandard.jpg 75w, https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2019\/12\/05\/sports\/05fifa\/merlin_148414641_eb5cd7a4-9f60-4781-b793-1cf49f7115c6-threeByTwoSmallAt2X.jpg\" \/><\/strong><\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1l19kgc e16ij5yr5\">\n<div class=\"css-bpyxdq e16ij5yr3\"><strong>Real Madrid\u2019s President Plots a Way for Richest Clubs to Get Richer<\/strong><\/div>\n<div class=\"css-x7rtpa e16638kd1\"><strong>Dec. 5, 2019<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1q1d7up e16ij5yr7\">\n<div class=\"css-1pksd7f e16ij5yr0\"><strong><img class=\"css-1p6jru7 e16ij5yr1\" sizes=\"(max-width:740px) 75px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2019\/04\/01\/sports\/01eurosoccer2\/01eurosoccer2-thumbStandard.jpg 75w, https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2019\/04\/01\/sports\/01eurosoccer2\/01eurosoccer2-threeByTwoSmallAt2X-v2.jpg\" \/><\/strong><\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1l19kgc e16ij5yr5\">\n<div class=\"css-bpyxdq e16ij5yr3\"><strong>In Europe, a Bitter Battle Between Clubs and Leagues Is Taking Shape<\/strong><\/div>\n<div class=\"css-x7rtpa e16638kd1\"><strong>April 1, 2019<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"bottom-of-article\">\n<div class=\"css-1ubp8k9\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1jp38cr\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-v0l3hm\" data-testid=\"site-index-sections\">\n<div class=\"css-g4gku8\" data-testid=\"site-index-section\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<footer class=\"css-1e1s8k7 dockVisible\" role=\"contentinfo\">\n<nav class=\"css-15uy5yv\" data-testid=\"footer\"><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/nav>\n<\/footer>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Leading European football clubs announce new Super League competition LFC Liverpool Football Club can confirm that we have joined Europe&#8217;s leading clubs in agreeing to form a new competition, the European Super League. A joint statement released by all 12 founding clubs can be found below, with further information being made available in due course. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19972,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2405,11,8,1314,1456,1156,13,2406,14,1,108,7,9,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19968","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all","category-business","category-entertainment","category-global-business-entrepreneurs","category-global-news-updates-and-more","category-global-sports","category-health","category-mbs-hss","category-most-commented","category-news","category-soccer-sports-news","category-sports","category-us","category-world","et-has-post-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19968","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=19968"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19968\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/19972"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=19968"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=19968"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=19968"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}