Liga Unify promoting company announces changes to the European Super League

A22 Sports, the company promoting the European Super League, took a significant step forward this Tuesday by announcing that it has submitted a formal proposal to UEFA and FIFA seeking official recognition of the competition.

This decision follows a landmark ruling by the European Court of Justice at the end of 2023, which prohibited FIFA and UEFA from banning clubs from participating in tournaments outside their jurisdiction. With this legal victory, A22 is now working to legitimize its project and position the competition as a viable alternative to traditional European tournaments.

The revised proposal addresses some of the key criticisms that led to the initial collapse of the Super League in 2021. A22 has introduced a new qualification system in which club participation will depend on their performances in their respective domestic leagues each season, similar to the structures currently used in the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League. This change marks a clear departure from the original closed format, which had sparked widespread backlash from fans, players, and football organizations.

Bernd Reichart, CEO of A22 Sports, highlighted the underlying motivations for the project, emphasizing the need to tackle pressing challenges facing football. In his statement, he pointed to rising subscription costs that limit fan accessibility, the unsustainable match calendar that burdens players, inadequate investment in women’s football, and general dissatisfaction with the leadership and format of UEFA’s competitions. According to Reichart, the Super League proposal offers concrete solutions to these issues, focusing on sustainable development and innovation to improve the sport at all levels.

One of the most notable changes in the new Super League format is the expansion to a four-tier structure, increasing the competition's inclusivity. The top division, named the “Star League,” will feature 16 teams split into two groups, with each team playing 14 home-and-away matches. The top four clubs from each group will then progress to the quarter-finals, which will be played as two-legged knockout rounds. The competition will culminate with a “Final Four,” held in a neutral host country, creating a major showpiece event for fans and broadcasters.

A further significant announcement was A22’s partnership with Unify, a new streaming platform that has secured the exclusive rights to broadcast all Super League matches. In response to concerns over rising subscription fees, Unify will offer fans the choice of watching matches for free with advertisements or opting for a premium, ad-free package at an affordable price. This partnership aims to make football more accessible to a global audience, breaking away from the expensive and fragmented broadcasting models that have drawn increasing criticism in recent years.

The competition will also be rebranded as “Liga Unify,” a name that reflects the project’s ambition to unite clubs, fans, and stakeholders around a modernized vision for football. A22 reiterated its commitment to building relationships with clubs and domestic leagues based on mutual respect, transparency, and constructive dialogue, positioning the Super League as a complementary competition rather than a disruptive force.

While the revised proposal appears to address many of the concerns raised during the initial launch, the Super League remains a controversial topic. Currently, only Real Madrid and Barcelona have publicly supported the project, with many other top European clubs maintaining a cautious stance. For now, A22 is engaged in ongoing discussions with over 96 clubs across Europe to build broader support for the competition.

Although initial reports suggested a potential launch date of September 2025, Reichart tempered expectations, acknowledging that such a timeline would be too ambitious. “The 2025/26 season would be too early. We are speaking with clubs across Europe, and no team will be pre-qualified in advance,” he clarified, emphasizing the open and meritocratic nature of the revised format. This marks a significant shift from the initial closed competition that triggered widespread protests in 2021.

The European Super League’s resurgence is a clear indication of the ongoing tensions surrounding the governance and future of European football. While A22 presents the project as a necessary step to address football’s financial and structural challenges, critics remain wary, arguing that the competition prioritizes commercial interests over the integrity of the sport.

For now, the fate of the Super League rests on A22’s ability to convince clubs, fans, and football authorities that their proposal can coexist with domestic leagues and deliver genuine benefits for all stakeholders. As discussions continue, the football world will be watching closely to see if Liga Unify represents the future of the sport or remains a controversial idea struggling to gain traction.