The Unify League could see 96 men’s teams taking part across four leagues. Reuters
All teams involved in the Unify League are being guaranteed a minimum of 14 matches per season. Qualification will not be automatic but “based on annual performance” in the domestic European leagues, A22 said. A key part of the new format would be free streaming of games on a branded “Unify” platform to, in A22’s words, “directly connect clubs to their global fan bases” and “improve the viewing experience at home by eliminating the need for multiple subscriptions.”
There would also be a premium subscription offered without adverts. If the plans get the green light, it in theory gives Europe’s clubs a choice: Stay with the existing European competitions run by UEFA or join a breakaway competition.
What has been the response?
No team has publicly backed the Unify League, strengthening the existing skepticism about the project. A22 said their plans had come after discussions with clubs, leagues and “other parties” but didn’t go into more details. Not even Barcelona or Madrid — the remaining holdouts from the original Super League — have commented, though the Spanish league has.
As expected, the league’s reaction was scathing, saying the project “threatens the governance of European football” and would “destroy the economy of national leagues.” “The project continues to lack support from clubs, federations, players, fans, national governments and European institutions,” La Liga said. There was no official response from any other major league, or from UEFA or FIFA.
Could it succeed?
It still seems a non-starter at this stage — and the outcry caused by the original rebellion would likely make most clubs retain the status quo. That is especially the case in England, with the popular and lucrative Premier League having said last year it “continues to reject any such concept” of a Super League.
Part of the Premier League’s owners’ charter states that clubs “will not engage in the creation of new competition formats outside of the Premier League’s Rules” and a proposed UK government bill would block English teams from trying to join a breakaway league. Financial details about the Unify League remain sketchy – for example, who is funding this? – and the latest plans come at a time when there has been a redrawing of the power dynamic in European football.
UEFA has a revamped, more lucrative and more open Champions League, FIFA has its big new club competition in the Club World Cup, with financial backing from Saudi Arabia. Put simply, there’s not the widespread discontent in football as there was four years ago.
However, A22 are confident the rebranded competition complies with UEFA’s required authorisation rules because of the revised feature that annual qualification is based on domestic league performance. John Hahn, co-founder of A22, said he had “not been expecting the public support of clubs at this time.” “Logically,” he said, “that will come following the official recognition of the Unify League.”
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Publish date : 2024-12-19 00:36:00
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