- Initial proposal knocked back in 2021
- Angry supporters protested
- Leading sides still keen on the idea
Getty/European Super League‘World league with three divisions’ – Ex-Chelsea director explains why Super League could happen as long as MLS-esque trap is avoided

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There is a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users. The plan is available on a one-month rolling contract, although those that sign up for a 12-month plan (offering one year plus an extra three months) can save around 60%, while those that sign up for a two-year plan (offering two years plus an extra four months) can save 67%. Both longer-term plans include a 3GB holiday.com eSIM that is valid for five days in 150+ destinations.

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Those that sign up for ExpressVPN's entry-level Basic plan gain access to a high-speed VPN, which offers high-capacity 40Gbps servers in many high-demand locations, with VPN servers in 113 countries worldwide.
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Additionally, ExpressVPN's Basic plan includes the ExpressMailGuard, which offers a 10MB/month private email relay plus 10 shared aliases.
There is a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users. The plan is available on a one-month rolling contract, although those that sign up for a 12-month plan (offering one year plus an extra three months) can save more than 60%, while those that sign up for a two-year plan (offering two years plus an extra four months) can save 80%.

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Additionally, ExpressVPN's Advanced plan includes the ExpressMailGuard, which offers a 100MB/month private email relay plus 50 shared aliases and a custom domain, and ExpressKeys, which gives users a password management facility for an unlimited number of passwords plus a 2FA authenticator.
There is a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users. The plan is available on a one-month rolling contract, although those that sign up for a 12-month plan (offering one year plus an extra three months) can save more than 60%, while those that sign up for a two-year plan (offering two years plus an extra four months) can save 73%. Both longer-term plans include a 3GB holiday.com eSIM that is valid for three days in 150+ destinations.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Initial plans to create a competition made up of the leading sides from Europe were quickly knocked back, amid fierce opposition from passionate supporters, but the issue refuses to go away. That is because the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus have never shelved proposals entirely.
Getty THE BIGGER PICTURE
A legal door has been opened for teams to continue exploring the option of creating a tournament that sits outside of UEFA and FIFA remits, with continental and global governing bodies being made aware that they cannot stop such breakaways from happening.
WHAT ARNESEN SAID ABOUT THE SUPER LEAGUE
With that in mind, former Chelsea sporting director Arnesen has told Tipsbladet of what could happen from here and why fans should be excited, rather than angry: "I am very curious about what will happen now with the Super League, especially since the EU has stated that UEFA does not have the exclusive right to organise tournaments. I am really excited about what will happen in the next five to 10 years. Will there be a world league with three divisions? I could easily envision that. I think something like that is being worked on behind the scenes, similar to golf, where Saudi Arabia created LIV Golf.
"Or like in boxing, where they went from having one world federation to having five or six. Something similar could easily happen in football. It's not just a possibility; it's a truly incredible possibility. I don't really mind it, to be honest. I can understand those who believe that the federations have taken power away from the clubs in areas where they should decide for themselves. UEFA and FIFA decide, even though the clubs bear all the financial risk. The clubs buy the players, they pay them every day, even though FIFA is expanding the World Cup to 48 teams, and FIFA might want the World Cups every two years, and whatever other ideas they have."
Getty ImagesDID YOU KNOW?
While being supportive of a global event featuring the best teams and players on the planet, Arnesen is against making that an MLS-esque closed shop with no promotion or relegation. He added: “I would actually not mind a Super League, as long as there is promotion and relegation. You should be able to enter and exit the tournament. We shouldn't go to a 100 per cent closed system like in American sports leagues. We should play for promotion and relegation. Also in that light, I could easily see that one day the club tournament with three divisions will be introduced. In some ways, it's not so different from UEFA having the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League, all of which will be expanded next season.”
WHAT NEXT?
Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham, Inter, Juventus, AC Milan, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid all signed up to the initial proposal in April 2021. Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund rejected invitations, but stances may change if the Super League were to become a global project that pulls in teams from all over the world – from England to America via Saudi Arabia and Spain.
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