A EUROPEAN SUPER LEAGUE chief claims 20 clubs have agreed to join the controversial project.
And he believes they now have enough support to launch the breakaway.
A22 Sports Management are leading the charge to resurrect the ESL plans after it was initially quashed within 48 hours amid furious backlash in April 2021.
However, a bombshell ruling by the European Court of Justice determined Fifa and Uefa acted against competition law when they blocked the moves.
Barcelona and Real Madrid publicly voiced their approval of the judge’s decision although the six English clubs vowed to stay out while Serie A will exile any rebels.
Now Madrid-based A22 have said they have drummed up the required sign-ups to get the hated Super League off the ground after a wave of talks with dozens of teams.
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A22 co-founder and general secretary Anas Laghrari told Ouest-France: “Since December 21, we have spoken with around 50 different clubs.
“About 20 of them are very, very motivated by the project. We already have enough clubs to start a competition.
“I don’t want to say their names because I don’t want to expose them.
“A club that has already given its commitment, but that published a statement to position itself against it, told us, ‘It’s exactly the same as when you confirm a coach for the job and fire him in the following weeks…'”
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The December court outcome sparked revival for the ESL traitors, spearheaded by the two LaLiga giants.
And they have even unveiled their plans for how the format would work.
After the original 12-team closed shop was shot down, the new league would feature three tiers with 64 clubs involved.
That would include 16 sides apiece in the Star and Gold leagues, the top two tiers, with the remaining 32 in the Blue division.
Promotion and relegation will be used after all, with no permanent members as clubs qualify on sporting merit only.
Laghari – who confirmed every match would be free to watch on streaming platform Unify – added: “We are very busy talking to different clubs, fan associations, players and people who are involved in football on a day-to-day basis.
“They all call us to better understand this project because, since it is possible and legal to propose an alternative, the actors want to work.
“We can work together to improve football.
“Once everyone understands that it is much fairer to have an authentic European pyramid, and not a system in which the quarter of the Spanish league is worth more than the Belgian champions, people will go towards this model.
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“All the games will be free and it will be that way forever. Gmail is free, WhatsApp is free, Instagram is free and yet they generate a lot of money per user.”
A paid service costing approximately £8.50 per month would provide supporters with an ad-free subscription.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
