By Andrew Warshaw
January 15 – Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, chairman of the body that represents Europe’s biggest clubs, has rekindled speculation about a breakaway European Super League.
Head of the European Club Association (ECA), the Bayern Munich boss told a German newspaper he didn’t exclude the possibility of a challenge to the existing Champions League some time down the road.
“I don’t rule out that in the future a European league will be founded, in which the biggest teams from Italy, Germany, England, Spain and France will play,” Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported him as saying.
“The football system will adjust to the new challenges of globalisation. This could be either organised under the aegis of UEFA or privately.”
To generate more income, Rummenigge reportedly suggested some games could be played in either the United States or Asia but the ECA was quick to issue a statement saying the idea had never been formally discussed at their meetings and that this was not the organisation’s position.
“There’s a lot of discussion around the future of European competitions at the moment, as always ahead of a new competition cycle,” said an ECA spokesman. “However, the idea of a European league as reported did not form part of any discussion at ECA.”
The current European club cycle ends after the 2017/18 season and Rummenigge’s comments will be keenly noted by both FIFA and UEFA.
Back in 1998, a Milan-based sports marketing company Media Partners held talks with leading clubs as they considered a possible breakaway league. FIFA threatened national associations, clubs and players with suspension if the idea went ahead and UEFA finally killed it off by expanding the Champions League and making it more attractive financially.
At the same time, the Cup Winners’ Cup and UEFA Cup competitions were merged to form what is now the Europa League though it is still given low priority by many clubs rather than a lucrative money-spinner, an attitude UEFA hopes will change now that the winners qualify for the Champions League.
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