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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Ewan Paton

Aberdeen chair Dave Cormack opens up on European Super League concerns

Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack insists the very real prospect of a European Super League will likely change the landscape of the game on the continent forever. 

The American-based businessman also fears that the formation of such a tournament could see the gap to Rangers and Celtic double for the remaining Scottish clubs.

Today, it has become very apparent that plans to form a new breakaway club competition are still alive.

It has emerged that UEFA and FIFA acted against competition law by blocking the formation of the European Super League in 2021.

The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Justice had been asked to come to a decision over the matter - and they have found that the governing body's rules are contrary to EU law.

A release issued by the court said such rules were “contrary to competition law and the freedom to provide services”.

And frustrated Cormack insists that 'as usual', there has been no discussion prior to this moment in Scotland.

He wrote on X: "This ruling will most likely change European football forever.

"Replacing the 3 current European cup competitions will be approx. 60 clubs forming 3 leagues based on ranking and being guaranteed a minimum of 14 European club games each season… with the only opportunity for clubs ranked 61+ being to go through qualification rounds to enter the third league only, where there will be relegation.

"This will be the Trojan horse towards a European Super League and ultimately cross-border leagues, because when the biggest clubs leave their National Leagues the commercial value for the remaining teams will plunge.

"Your board at Aberdeen FC has been expecting this decision for some time. Throughout our history, including this season’s group stages, the appetite for European football if anything has grown significantly.

"We are working with like-minded clubs across Europe to make sure we do our utmost to deliver European club competition with similarly competitive clubs, the absence of which will lead to double the current gap in finances versus Celtic and Rangers, who will be included in those 60 ranked teams. As usual, in Scotland, we have slept-walked our way into this without any discussion."

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