The company behind last year’s failed European Super League have appointed a new CEO as they bid to revive the project within the next three years.
A22 Sports Management, the company which represents the ESL, have appointed German media executive Bernd Reichart and called for European club football to be revamped.
In April last year, 12 clubs from England, Italy and Spain - including Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham - launched the ESL, but it collapsed within 48 hours after a huge backlash from fans, governing bodies and other teams not involved.
Since the failed launch, only Barcelona, Juventus and Real Madrid have continued to back the plan and the appointment of Reichart is an indication of how they do not intend to give up.
“European club football is facing existential problems,” he said. “European football is losing its undisputed leadership position in global sports.
“It’s not living up to its potential by not offering the best matches, week after week. Consequences are massive.
“The current financial model of football is broken and unsustainable, financial controls are inadequate and insufficiently enforced, leading to competitive imbalances and financial stress.”
Under its original guise, the ESL planned to involve a closed structure, with the founder clubs taking part in the competition regardless of their performance in domestic leagues.
That prompted a fierce backlash from fans, managers and players and the structure looks set to change in the new model.
Reichart told the Financial Times today how there is “a clearly stated move towards an open format” and that “permanent membership is off the table”.
The new CEO added it was a “reasonable” expectation that the ESL could be launched as early as the 2024-25 season.
“We want to see whether or not there is broader consensus about the problems facing European football,” Reichart added.
