European Super League chief claims they already have approval from ‘around 20’ clubs - and warns they have enough to start breakaway tournament

Laghrari who co-owns A22 Management, the company promoting the European Super League has made a bold claim that they have the approval from around 20 clubs across Europe which is enough to start a new breakaway competition. The ESL chief further mentioned that they have been speaking to all the stakeholders including fan associations to understand the project but remain confident of launching the tournament soon.

Speaking to Ouest-France, Laghrari said, "I don't want to say their names because I don't want to expose them. Since December 21, we have spoken with around fifty different clubs. About twenty of them are very, very motivated by the project. We already have enough clubs to start a competition.

"We are very busy talking to different clubs, fan associations, players and people who are involved in football on a day-to-day basis. They all call us to better understand this project because, since it is possible and legal to propose an alternative, the actors want to work. We can work together to improve football."

He added, "A club that has already given its commitment, but that published a statement to position itself against it, told us: 'It's exactly the same as when you confirm a coach for the job and fire him in the following weeks.

"Once everyone understands that it is much fairer to have an authentic European pyramid and not a system in which the quarter of the Spanish League is worth more than the Belgian champion, people will go towards this model."

On December 21, 2023, the European Court of Justice delivered its ruling on the Super League as they declared that blocking the formation of the competition is contrary to EU law, potentially paving the way for the competition to be resurrected. The decision came as a huge blow to FIFA and UEFA who vehemently opposed the formation of the new tournament which was first proposed in April 2021.

Despite the ECJ's verdict last month, most of the top European clubs - except for Real Madrid and Barcelona - had issued statements rejecting the new breakaway competition. It remains to be seen if the clubs now take a U-turn and decide to join the ESL.