'Overwhelming opposition' to Super League, insists UEFA

Representatives from the company behind the European Super League have been told UEFA remains opposed to the concept, along with the continent's clubs, leagues, players and fans.

A22, a company which was behind the organisation of the hugely controversial project initially launched by 12 of Europe’s top clubs in April last year, had requested a meeting with UEFA as it bids to reposition itself as an open and inclusive competition.

That meeting took place on Tuesday with senior officials from European football’s governing body joined by players’ and fans’ representatives, along with club and league executives, and afterwards UEFA stated that "opposition to the self-proclaimed super league remains overwhelming today as it has been since April 2021".

The Super League collapsed when nine of the founder clubs – including the Premier League’s 'Big Six’ – withdrew within 72 hours of the league's foundation being confirmed.

That left only the presidents of Barcelona, Juventus and Real Madrid as advocates of the project.

However, UEFA’s statement added: "The participants took note, with surprise, the claims of A22 Sports CEO (Bernd Reichart) that this company is not representing any clubs in any capacity, including the three clubs who continue to openly support the project."

The nine clubs who renounced the Super League have since rejoined the European Club Association (ECA), which was represented at the meeting.

It released a statement saying it was "steadfastly opposed" to any breakaway project and added: "ECA was firmly against such concepts in April 2021; the same remains true in 2022."

It pointed to governance reforms which it feels address many of the initial grievances which prompted the breakaway – the creation of a joint venture