Football fans in Europe are mostly in favor of the creation of a Football Super League. This is what reveals a survey conducted by OpinionWay for A22, the company promoting this dissident continental club competition. The figures were presented Monday evening in Paris, during a press conference in the presence of Bernd Reichart, general director of A22.
The study was carried out at the beginning of February among a sample of 6,458 football fans aged 15 or over, selected from the countries of the eight main European leagues (France, Germany, Spain, England, Portugal, Belgium, Netherlands, Italy). 72% of those questioned support the Super League project. This figure is higher in France (75%) but falls to 61% in Germany. Respondents mention a “good idea”, a “fairer system”, a “new innovative format”, and believe that there will be “more suspense”, but also “more diversity in the participating clubs” in this competition. .
The figures support the argument of A22, which obtained an important legal victory in December 2023. The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) had ruled that UEFA, current organizer of the main European competitions (Champions League, Europa League, Europa Conference League), was infringing competition law by threatening to sanction those who would join the Super League. In the process, A22 unveiled the outlines of its continental event with 64 clubs divided into three leagues (Star League, Gold League, Blue League) for the men’s tournament and 32 clubs divided into two leagues for the women’s edition. “UEFA’s monopoly is over. Football is free,” exulted Bernd Reichart.
The study reveals a greater appetite for the Super League among young people. The membership rate is thus 86% among 15-24 year olds, and drops to 59% among 65 year olds. Differences also exist depending on the club supported by the respondents. For France, 81% of PSG fans are in favor of the project, 78% for Olympique de Marseille and 66% for Olympique Lyonnais.
For their part, the 28% surveyed who do not support the Super League project deplore that there are “already too many matches”, that the format is “too elitist” and that the competition only aims to “generate more money”.
Coincidentally (or not) with the calendar, UEFA responded earlier this Monday by officially presenting the new format that it wishes to put in place from next season. The group stage becomes a mini-championship of 36 teams in which each team plays 8 matches. Although carried out in advance, the OpinionWay survey for A22 shows that 70% of football fans were unaware of this change in format.
