European Super League Changes Name and Format, Promises Free Streaming Worldwide

In light of recent developments, international media has revisited the controversial European Super League (ESL) project following significant changes made by its managing company, A22 Sports. The revamped format has reignited discussions about the league’s potential impact on football’s future.

The Athletic reported: “The company behind the European Super League, which sparked widespread controversy, has revised its proposal again, scrapping the original closed model to make it more appealing to clubs and fans alike.”

In December 2023, A22 Sports, based in Madrid, abandoned its 2021 plan to form a league of 20 teams with 15 permanent members. Instead, it proposed a new format featuring three divisions with 64 clubs, though the method of qualification was unclear.

Now, following a year of consultations, A22 Sports has introduced the “Unified League,” consisting of four divisions with 96 teams. Qualification will be determined through traditional domestic competitions.

The proposed league, now rebranded as the Unified League, will feature four divisions: Star, Gold, Blue, and Union. The first two divisions will host 16 teams each, while the latter two will accommodate 32 teams each.

Each division will be divided into groups of eight teams. The top four from each group in the Star and Gold divisions will progress to knockout stages, while only the top two from each group in the Blue and Union divisions will advance.

In a direct challenge to what it describes as UEFA’s “monopoly” over European cross-border competitions, A22 Sports has formally requested approval from UEFA and FIFA to proceed with its league concept.

The company believes that governing bodies will have no choice but to allow the league’s creation or refrain from imposing preemptive sanctions on participating clubs, citing a landmark European Court of Justice ruling last December. The court ruled that UEFA and FIFA’s opposition to the original 2021 ESL proposal violated EU laws.

The Sun headlined: “European Super League Returns Under a New Name, ‘Unified League,’ with a £2.7 Billion Budget—Could Replace the Champions League.”

The Guardian added: “Real Madrid Draws Inspiration from Titanic and Asterix in Pursuit of European Super League 2.0.”

Real Madrid CEO José Ángel Sánchez emphasized the necessity of restructuring European football, likening UEFA to musicians on the Titanic, oblivious to impending disaster.

Meanwhile, The Daily Express reported that the controversial ESL project has been renamed the Unified League, promising free streaming for fans.

The tournament will reportedly stream live via the Unified platform, modeled on Netflix. It will offer free access with advertising or a subscription-based option to eliminate ads, similar to Spotify or YouTube’s premium services.