Unify League latest reaction LIVE: Fallout as European Super League RELAUNCHED and set to rival Champions League
THE European Super League is set to be RELAUNCHED with a whole new format as organisers battle for it to rival the Champions League once again.
Unlike the first and widely criticised Super League concept, which saw the 12 breakaway rebels - including the Prem Big Six - guaranteed entry, all positions will be earned by domestic performances in the previous campaign.
The Unify League would consist of 96 teams from across Europe taking part each year.
Qualification would be similar to the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League.
There would be four leagues - Star League, Gold League, Blue League and Union League.
The top two divisions, Star and Gold, would each have 16 teams in them, split into two groups of eight.
The groups of eight would play each other home and away, a total of 14 matches per club each season.
The bottom two divisions, Blue and Union, would have 32 teams each, split into four groups of eight -they would also play each other home and away.
In the Star and Gold leagues, the top four of each group would play a two-legged quarter-final.
In the Blue and Union, it would be the top two teams from each group making up the quarter-finals.
The winners of those matches would then progress to a "final four" week of one-off matches to provide the champions of the four different leagues. Those games would be played on a neutral ground.
The Premier League would have three guaranteed entrants in the Star League - and two English teams would go into the Gold League.
Up to five further slots for Prem teams would be spread across the remaining pair.
No formal start date has been set, SunSport understands that there is a provisional target of competition launch in September 2026.
Follow ALL the latest reaction from our live blog below
What’s the format of the new version of the European Super League?
There would be FOUR leagues: Star League, Gold League, Blue League and Union League.
The top two divisions, Star and Gold, would each have 16 teams in them, split into two groups of eight.
The groups of eight would play each other home and away, a total of 14 matches per club each season.
The bottom two divisions, Blue and Union, would have 32 teams each, split into four groups of eight.
They would also play each other home and away.
In the Star and Gold leagues, the top four of each group would play a two-legged quarter-final.
In the Blue and Union, it would be the top two teams from each group making up the quarter-finals.
The winners of those matches would then progress to a “final four” week of one-off matches to provide the champions of the four different leagues.
Those games would be played on a neutral ground.
When could it launch?
Should the Unify League be accepted by Uefa and Fifa then it could be launched within two years.
There is currently no formal start date set, but SunSport understands that the provisional target is for the competition to launch in September 2026.
Fan reaction echoes 2021 backlash
Fans have been left seething at the prospect of the new competition as they reacted on social media.
One supporter took to X, writing: “Unify League? Oh, because nothing screams unity like more ways to make money.”
While another wrote: “The only unity they’ll achieve is that of a whole host of fans from numerous clubs who will be against this!
“Just leave our game alone.”
A third added: “This is a f***ing joke!😡.”
Fury over revamped Super League
Four divisions for a new 96-club European Super League would be inspired by the EU flag — Star, Gold, Blue and Union.
Promoter A22 Sports yesterday unveiled its format for a “Unify League” and said it had written to Fifa and Uefa to ask for official endorsement.
The firm’s previous plan for a closed 20-team league folded in April 2021 amid a fan backlash — as reported by The Sun.
But A22 bosses believe Uefa must endorse its proposal following a December 2023 European Court of Justice ruling that previous tactics used to block a Super League were contrary to EU law.
How many English teams will take part?
The Premier League would have three guaranteed entrants in the Star League.
Two English teams would go into the Gold League.
Up to five further slots for Prem teams would be spread across the remaining pair.
LaLiga hits out
LaLiga have released a statement hitting out at the A22 for the renewed attempt to form a European Super League.
A LaLiga statement read: “Once again, A22 has presented yet another model of the failed European Super League, now called Unify League.
“A project that threatens the governance of European football by seeking to follow a handful of big clubs for their own benefit, promoting a broadcast rights commercialisation model that would benefit only a few elitist clubs and destroy the economy of national leagues.
“The project continues to lack support from clubs, federations, players, fans, national governments and European institutions.”
Here’s what’s different this time:
- Open Access: No automatic spots for big clubs. All 96 teams must qualify annually.
- Four-Tier Format: The top two tiers, “Star League” and “Gold League,” each have 16 teams in two groups of 8. Teams play 14 group matches, with the top 8 advancing to the knockout stages.
- Streaming-First Approach: Matches will stream on a “Unified” app. Fans can watch for free (with ads) or pay for an ad-free experience – similar to Spotify’s model.
- Legal Backing: Organisers @A22Sports, linked to Real Madrid’s president, believe Uefa is legally obliged to permit the competition after a December 2023 EU court ruling.
Tebas slams relaunched ESL
LaLiga president Javier Tebas has hit back at plans to relaunch the European Super League.
He posted on social media: " Those from are back with a new idea.
"They produce formats as if they were churros (and they do), without analysing or studying the economic and sporting effects on the competitions.
"The television model they propose only favours the big clubs (and they know it...) while endangering the economic stability of the national leagues and their clubs."
Broadcasting details for proposed Unify League
According to A22, the new European Super League would be free for fans to watch.
It will be streamed on new platform called “Unify”.
Unify is the proposal for a state-of-the-art digital streaming platform.
A22 Sports’ official website wrote: "We will democratise football by allowing fans everywhere to watch new European Super League games for free."
A22 Sports also suggest subscription tiers would also be offered for those who prefer to view matches with minimal advertising while enjoying advanced features such as favourite camera angles, live match data and other interactive options.
They add: “Distribution partnerships with broadcasters, streaming services, clubs and content providers will also be an important component of the Unify experience to ensure ease of access for fans.”
What the women's version will look like
A22 will also have a women's version of the Unify League, which will feature 32 clubs in two leagues.
There will be 14 guaranteed league-stage matches, followed by knockout rounds.
Who are A22?
A22 Sports Management is a company that was created by Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus to move legislation for the European Super League.
Juventus left the ESL in 2023, which means that just Barca and Real were pushing for a new European tournament.
The company's CEO is Bernd Reichart and he is the face to announce ESL plans.
Statement from CEO of organising company A22
Bernd Reichart, the chief executive of A22, said: “Our extensive engagement with key stakeholders revealed a number of pressing challenges facing the sport.
"Including increasing subscription costs for fans, an overloaded player calendar, insufficient investment in women’s football, and dissatisfaction with the format and governance of the current pan-European competitions.
"Our proposal is designed to directly address these challenges.”
He added: "The streaming platform would offer free, advertising-supported viewing of matches as well as “affordable premium subscriptions".
What will happen to the Premier League if Unify League is launched.
Nothing.
The competition would replace the Champions League, not domestic competitions such as the Premier League or LaLiga.
The company A22 Sports Management — backed by Real Madrid — has said it will submit the proposal to Fifa and Uefa.
They believe that the organisations will have no option but to give permission to the new 96-team competition after the European Court of Justice ruled last year that Uefa’s blocking of the initial plan was contrary to EU law.
The A22 plan says the four-division league will be completely merit-based.
Here’s what’s different this time:
- Open Access: No automatic spots for big clubs. All 96 teams must qualify annually.
- Four-Tier Format: The top two tiers, “Star League” and “Gold League,” each have 16 teams in two groups of 8. Teams play 14 group matches, with the top 8 advancing to the knockout stages.
- Streaming-First Approach: Matches will stream on a “Unified” app. Fans can watch for free (with ads) or pay for an ad-free experience – similar to Spotify’s model.
- Legal Backing: Organisers @A22Sports, linked to Real Madrid’s president, believe Uefa is legally obliged to permit the competition after a December 2023 EU court ruling.
Fan reaction echoes 2021 backlash
One supporter took to X, writing: "Unify League? Oh, because nothing screams unity like more ways to make money."
While another wrote: "The only unity they’ll achieve is that of a whole host of fans from numerous clubs who will be against this!
"Just leave our game alone."
A third added: "This is a f***ing joke!😡."
A fourth replied: "I'm already bored of European football as it is, the"Champions" League this year is not worth watching."
The Unify League would need to pass FOUR Uefa tests
The Unify League would need to pass four tests — administrative and financial, sporting and technical, ethical, and sporting merit — to be approved.
Having sporting merit approved would mean securing the agreement of European Leagues and the European Club Association (ECA), both of which have been strongly opposed to the concept.
A22 said it has been involved in consultation with clubs across Europe, including in the Premier League, and that teams would qualify via their domestic competitions.
Uefa say the Unify League won't replace Champions League
Uefa insiders insist there is almost no chance of the Unify League replacing the Champions League, which was this season revamped with a 36-team, single-league format replacing the old group stage.
According to , one senior figure described the latest plan as “bulls***” and a “Christmas pantomime”.
How many English teams will take part?
The Premier League would have three guaranteed entrants in the Star League.
Two English teams would go into the Gold League.
Up to five further slots for Prem teams would be spread across the remaining pair.
How does the Unify League work and who plays in it?
The proposed competition would see 96 teams from across Europe taking part each year.
All positions will be earned by performances in domestic competitions the previous campaign - just as it currently is with the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.
The top two leagues would be called the Star League and the Gold League, with 16 teams in both divisions, divided into two groups of eight.
The third and fourth divisions would be named the Blue League and Union League.
In the final eight, made up of two teams from each of the four groups in the top two leagues, would consist of two-legged quarter finals, followed by one-legged semi finals at a neutral venue in the same week as the final.
It is reported that there would then be 14 group stage fixtures, with the winners playing 18 games in total.
The Blue and Union Leagues would work in the same way.
Premier League silent on European Super League relaunch
Unlike three years ago, when the so-called Big Six, agreed to join the ESL before backing out almost immediately after backlash, this time no Prem club has offered a comment on the relaunch.
Only Real Madrid and Barcelona are thought to have confirmed their entry if Uefa accept A22's proposal.
We'll be keeping our eyes and ears open...
Click here for everything you need to know about the Unify League.
How will A22 Sports Management Company fund the Unify League?
In terms of how A22 intends to fund the Unify League, its big idea remains the creation of a global streaming platform, called Unify.
The service would offer fans the chance to watch these games for free, with adverts, or without adverts for a fee.
Many industry experts question whether this is economically feasible, although UK-based sports streamer DAZN and Fifa have just announced that this is the business model they are trying for next summer’s Club World Cup.
Coincidence?
Why many believe the new Unify League will be accepted
Madrid-based A22 Sports believes that the governing bodies will have no choice but to grant it permission to try to establish this league.
It comes after last December’s landmark ruling by the European Court of Justice ruled that the response by Uefa and Fifa to the original European Super League proposal in 2021 breached European Union law.
A22 believe neither body can impose any preemptive punishments on clubs interested in the idea.
Its 2021 plan of creating a 20-team league, with 15 permanent members has been erased.
And replaced with a four-league format of 64 clubs.
A22 is confident its new proposal addresses the biggest criticism it received in 2021 from fans across Europe, but particularly in the UK.
Fans fumed over the 2021 plans radical departure from decades of tradition, where European football is something clubs earn via their performances in domestic leagues.
It also believes that many clubs are unhappy with the so-called Swiss model that Uefa has introduced to all three of its club competitions this season and they want complete control.