MX23RW : Wednesday, December 27 07:55:19| >> :120:28925:28925:

Barcelona, Real Madrid 'set for £869m European Super League bonus'

Barcelona, Real Madrid 'set for £869m European Super League bonus'
© Reuters
Barcelona and Real Madrid reportedly stand to receive a gargantuan €1bn (£868.9m) loyalty payment if the European Super League comes to fruition in the future.

Barcelona and Real Madrid reportedly stand to receive a gargantuan €1bn (£868.9m) loyalty payment if the European Super League comes to fruition in the future.

From the 12 clubs to sign up to the original doomed project in April 2021, the two Spanish giants are the only teams still committed to the highly controversial plans.

All other founding members of the European Super League pulled out of the plans over the course of a few days two years ago, having received significant backlash from supporters and authority figures in government.

FIFA and UEFA went as far as to threaten clubs and players with expulsion from competitions, but Barca and Real have refused to back down and were given a huge boost in their efforts to create a breakaway league last week.

Alongside principal backers A22 Sports, the La Liga powerhouses took FIFA and UEFA to the European Court of Justice over their threats to ban players, which have now been ruled to have been unlawful.

FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta speaks during the board meeting on September 13, 2023© Reuters

The ECJ's decision was warmly received by Barca and Real Madrid, who continue to insist that a Super League is the way forward from a financial viewpoint and for fans, even though spectators across the globe continue to denounce the idea.

Following the court ruling, A22 announced their vision for a revamped Super League, which would involve 64 men's teams and 32 women's teams across three separate leagues, compared to the 12 founding members in a closed-off competition.

The project has still been condemned by a surfeit of European clubs, including every member of the Premier League's Big Six and former advocates AC Milan, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid.

The clubs in question have all released statements saying that their position remains unchanged and they will continue in UEFA competitions, but A22 are still hoping to hold talks with Premier League and foreign teams.

According to Sport, if the Super League idea does eventually take off - which is still seen as highly unlikely - both Barca and Real Madrid will receive €1bn (£868.9m) owing to their loyalty to the project.

European sports development company A22 CEO Bernd Reichart during an interview after the European Court of Justice ruled that UEFA and FIFA acted against competition law by blocking the formation of the European Super League on December 21, 2023© Reuters

Barcelona in particular possess financial motivations for pushing for a European Super League, as the Blaugrana remain saddled with debt, which the club placed at €552m (£479.6m) at the end of the 2022-23 season.

The ESL loyalty payment would allow the La Liga champions to clear the lingering debt off their books, but the other 10 clubs to withdraw from the original plans could supposedly have to pay €300m (£260.7m) in compensation if they do not have a change of heart.

After the ECJ's ruling broke on Thursday morning, Real president Florentino Perez - a staunch proponent for a European Super League - hailed the decision as a "great day for the history of football".

Meanwhile, Barcelona also reaffirmed their commitment to the footballing "monopoly" overseen by FIFA and UEFA, who were determined to have been abusing a dominant position.

ID:532133:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect6234:

Click here for more stories about Florentino Perez

Click here for more stories about Real Madrid

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp reacts on December 20, 2023
Read Next:
Liverpool reject new European Super League plans
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
Read more about Florentino Perez Football
rhs 2.0
MLS Apple TV+ Messi promo
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid18143139112845
2GironaGirona18143142212145
3Atletico MadridAtletico18122436191738
4Barcelona18115234211338
5Athletic Bilbao18105334191535
6Real Sociedad1887329181131
7Real BetisBetis1861022018228
8Getafe186842423126
9Las PalmasLas Palmas187471515025
10Valencia186571922-323
11Rayo Vallecano184861624-820
12Osasuna185492129-819
13Villarreal185492635-919
14Mallorca183961722-518
15Sevilla183782325-216
16AlavesAlaves1844101424-1016
17CadizCadiz182971424-1015
18Celta Vigo182791828-1013
19Granada1815122040-208
20Almeria1805131942-235

MLS Apple TV+ Messi promo
New Apple Music general promo - 300x250

Subscribe to our newsletter


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!