What is A22 Sports Management?
A22 SPORTS MANAGEMENT has risen to the fore after plans to resurrect the European Super League are back on.
The sports marketing company's mission is to "sponsor and assist" in the "creation of the European Super League".
But what is A22 and how has it become such a prominent player in the future of football?
We have you covered here.
What is A22 Sports Management?
The Madrid-based company was specifically created in September 2022 with the aim of pushing through legislation for the ESL in the aftermath of the failed attempt in 2021.
The firm was created in tandem by Euro powerhouses Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus who were the loudest proponents of the breakaway league.
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Juventus have since officially left the project after they were threatened with expulsion from the Champions League, although are still believed to be supportive of it.
After he was appointed, CEO Bernd Reichart claimed the European Super league would be "relaunched within three years".
The firm took meetings with various bodies and released a manifesto in February 2023, with changed plans.
While reception to the idea has been muted, especially in England and Germany, a major court ruling has once again opened the door to a new-look ESL.
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The European Court of Justice has overturned the previous ruling - which blocked the formation of the ESL - and stated that Fifa and Uefa acted against competition law.
Reichart, a former senior executive for German broadcaster RTL, described the ruling as an "historic day for football" that ends "Uefa's monopoly over European club football".
However, despite the news, A22 appears to face a long fight to push through their changes, with numerous clubs quickly moving to reject the proposals.
How will A22 Sports Management's New European Super League look?
The latest European Super league plans will see a THREE-tier competition, complete with promotion and relegation, with 64 teams in total.
The first two tiers - dubbed the Star League and the Gold League - are made up of 16 teams each.
The remaining 32 teams will compete in the Blue League.
A22's plans state that participation will be based SOLELY on sporting merit, with no permanent members.
Promotion and relegation will be decided annually, while promotion into the Blue League is based upon domestic league performance.
There will be groups of eight teams, playing home and away, making a minimum of 14 games per season.
After the group stage there is then a knockout stage to determine champions, promotion and relegation.
The plans state that there will be no additional calendar days to those that already exist, while midweek fixtures will not clash with current domestic calendars.
What have clubs said about the new European Super League?
While it is clear that Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus are supportive of the plans, there was concern from other fans about the stance of their clubs.
However, many have moved to assure fans that they do NOT approve of A22's second draft for the European Super League.
At the time of writing, the following clubs have already released formal statements to say they do not support the new plans:
- Manchester United
- Bayern Munich
- Borussia Dortmund
- Paris Saint-Germain
- Atletico Madrid
- Sevilla
- Real Sociedad
- Monaco
- Roma
- Inter
- Feyenoord
Other clubs may, or may not, release their own statements in due course.
The Premier League also released a statement: "Today’s ruling does not endorse the Super League — and the Premier League continues to REJECT any such concept.
"Supporters are of vital importance to the game and they have time and again made clear their opposition to a 'breakaway' competition that severs the link between domestic and European football.
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"The Premier League reiterates its commitment to the clear principles of open competition that underpin the success of domestic and international club competitions.
"Football thrives on the competitiveness created by promotion and relegation, the annual merit-based qualification from domestic leagues and cups to international club competitions and the longstanding rivalries and rituals that come with weekends being reserved for domestic football."