The European Super League story took another dramatic twist this week after a European court ruled in the breakaway league's favour when it determined that clubs should not be punished for joining the controversial competition.
It found that FIFA and UEFA acted against competition law by blocking the creation of the Super League in 2021 after participating clubs were threatened with sanctions if they opted to link up with the breakaway.
The Super League's announcement two years ago triggered mass anger from across the gaem and furious protests from supporters, before the majority of teams decided to withdraw from the tournament.
Barcelona and Real Madrid are still behind a new revamped version of the Super League, which still hopes to push ahead with its plans despite opposition from clubs to re-join.
Mail Sport breaks down the biggest questions and talking points around the latest chapter in the Super League debacle.
WHAT DOES THIS RULING MEAN?
It means that UEFA acted ‘unlawfully’ when they banned those involved from attempting to form a breakaway league in 2021. It does not, however, mean that the Super League would have been permitted.
UEFA have been told to amend its rules on the pre-authorisation of new competitions and bring them into line with European Union law, effectively making them more transparent.
They say that they have already done this, in 2022, and claim they now ‘comply with all relevant European laws and regulations’.
WHAT ARE THE REBELS PROPOSING?
Quickly after the verdict A22, the Madrid-based vehicle that was behind the original plan, announced proposals for a 64-team, three-division men’s competition and a 32-team competition for women that would be streamed free.
Chief executive Bernd Reichert, however, failed to mention how the tournament would be funded or say who would be joining Real Madrid and Barcelona.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin joked: ‘It’s close to Christmas, they saw a box under the tree and started to celebrate, but then when they opened the box they realised there was not much inside.’
WILL ENGLISH CLUBS SIGN UP?
No. Two things to note here. One – the ferocious backlash from fans the first time around lingers in the memory and two – there will soon be a law in place to stop them from doing so. There appears to be little appetite.
To their credit, Manchester United were the first to go public to say they would not be taking part, and were later followed by others from the ‘Big Six’.
WHAT ABOUT OTHER COUNTRIES?
German clubs were not involved the first time around and will not be again. Paris Saint-Germain were one of the first to say no and are closely aligned with the UEFA-backing European Club Association (ECA).
According to La Liga president Javier Tebas, only Barcelona and Real Madrid, from Spain, are onboard. ‘So it’s going to be those two and clubs from the likes of Belgium and Holland,’ one source said. ‘Good luck selling that.’
In Scotland, Celtic chairman Peter Lawwell is an ECA vice-chairman, although Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack hinted on social media that both and Rangers would be two of the 64.
IS THIS THE END OF THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE?
No.
AngelBluebest
0
Truth if I am being honest. Papa Perez with 1B would be really scary. But Barca saved from debt and beating a really invincible RM would be fun.
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first option would still be best choice
hrh_king_zamani
0
UEFA champions league without Real Madrid & Barcelona is like buzzers tornament Real Madrid carries away with it all History of that Cup alone.
Because u people are the co founding
Charliey
0
Why only corrupted Presidents in the history of LaLiga want the super league?
His a kid.. he taught pastors or pope where suppose to own a club or play football
Louis-Optimism7
0
The Fifa guys want to monopolize football. That is bad. Right now they are blaming those team accusing them of being after money yet it is the primary reasin for theie existence. If it is not about revenue then why fight the alternative competition. Shane of FIFA
Consider player schedules and health. currently, it's too much, adding another one for money isn't necessary. UCL can be amended rather than ESL
Dreams_cant_be_buy
6
Truth if I am being honest. Papa Perez with 1B would be really scary. But Barca saved from debt and beating a really invincible RM would be fun.
Mubbcdmnu
1
The Fifa guys want to monopolize football. That is bad. Right now they are blaming those team accusing them of being after money yet it is the primary reasin for theie existence. If it is not about revenue then why fight the alternative competition. Shane of FIFA
Believersministry1
0
Why only corrupted Presidents in the history of LaLiga want the super league?
Wake up without thinking and speaking with a dirty mouth. New league new excitement and enjoyment. It’s like as your club is going backwards your head is also backwards and not progressing
Bazbcmuz
0
Why only corrupted Presidents in the history of LaLiga want the super league?
Tell me which club doesn't have a corrpt running them?Even ManU fans eat their clubs owners are corrupts.
Aprekukblankson
1
Only Barca and Real Madrid Fans are still delusional over this Supperleague when everyone else is not keen to join anymore
This football reporter is twisting things around. The uefa and the fifa Cabinets have designed a huke around the clubs and football. Nobody put them there but they are are private entities that proclaimed themselves football authorities. People are being lied to by both parties. Ask yourself how is it that the big six jumped into the idea of super league when they already enjoyed a convenient pl? Isn't something off about the stories coming out. There's one truth to this, the clubs are being suffocated and squash by the so called authorities uefa and fifa. They (uefa and fifa) have monopolize entire football competitions and are eager to amend their ways. So enough was enough for this nonsense. First, uefa exhorst players with day in and day out new useless competitions such as euro Nations league which was supposed to be be the schedule for the clubs to manage their teams with friendly teams. Secondly fifa to pen down new format of the fifa club world cup in the mist of the tit schedule. Thirdly, uefa to maximise the playing matches with absurdly new champions league format. Fourtly, fifa got the provisional votes to host the world cup tournament for the two years. Players injuries keeps compiling up the scale. To add oil to the fire uefa and fifa has allowed the some European teams to be owned by the US and some powerful states and overlooks their wrong doing Competition prizes are as joke as the snow ball. Teams without solicitors or are not backed by the state owned will decline significantly. They(uefa and fifa ) manipulate the market to suit some whilst killing others example in the case of Neymar and Messi and others unknown. So does football belongs to the uefa and fifa to do what ever they want to do. The so called ECA and other associations that are in place to check the balance so that such monopoly cannot happen are all members elected by uefa goons. The fans are the only party to side with their clubs but they are are being manipulated and deceived. How? Notice how the competition money came to light in just a few days of the proposed esl. Notice how they damaged Pérez image with release of the box recordings. Notice how they superficially involved the UK authority to invoke a law which never happened in any categories of laws in the UK to transpire politics into football. Fans are not blind just that they are sensitive when it comes to money. But I believe that the lies will not always be the truth. A day will come that uefa and fifa will be at the end of the cross and the same fans the deceived and give power to Will turn to them. I TOO AM NOT A FAN OF EUROPEAN SUPER LEAGUE BUT I THINK THAT FIFA AND UEFA MUST GIVE IN A LITTLE BIT BIT OF EAR TO THE CLUBS SO THAT THEY CAN GET THINGS SORTED OUT. I BELIEVE THAT WILL FINALLY PUT THE ESL TO REST AT LAST NOT ENDORSING OR FORCING LAWS Note Mr auty the European football league is not survival of the fittest but free, fair and collaborative.
dupcdelopz
0
Why only corrupted Presidents in the history of LaLiga want the super league?
man utd is failure
Kipcinrs
3
Why only corrupted Presidents in the history of LaLiga want the super league?
Junior1c
2
it would be interesting to watch. has a pure football fan. but it would not be the same
Caabnopsuz
2
UEFA champions league without Real Madrid & Barcelona is like buzzers tornament Real Madrid carries away with it all History of that Cup alone.
TheOddOne
2
Only Barca and Real Madrid Fans are still delusional over this Supperleague when everyone else is not keen to join anymore