THE Premier League are losing the battle to prevent a behemoth new European Super League — being proposed by the Continent’s top clubs.
Latest plans set out a ten-match group stage in a 32-team league, in a blueprint laid out to the European Club Association.
English clubs have done well out of big revenues from both the Premier League and Champions LeagueCredit: AP:Associated Press
ECA and Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli is one of the proponents of the European Super LeagueCredit: Getty Images – Getty
According to the Mail, the ECA have rejected the idea of four groups of eight teams and now want to go for one big league instead, with the top eight qualifying for a knock-out stage automatically.
The next 16 teams would then have to jump into a play-off, with eight progressing to the next round.
Premier League bosses would see a new European Super League as a massive threat to their £9billion cash cow.
SunSport revealed in August how the ECA’s proposal could lead to the extinction of the League Cup and 21 games would be needed to win the competition.
But those numbers have been cut to either 17 or 19 games — depending on whether teams qualify automatically from the group stages.
The ECA also want to play games on weekends, something the Premier League is fiercely against, because of the broadcast revenues generated by prime-time matches.
ECA and Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli is one of the architects of the European football upgrade.
He has warned that constantly turning down proposals “is not healthy”.
BT Sport have exclusive rights to the Champions League in the UK and paid £1.2bn to do so for 2021 to 2024.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
