One year ago, the launch of the breakaway tournament made to rival the Champions League rocked the world of soccer. But the big clubs are still profiting from the failed idea.
It is a year since the European Super League launched. In the moment, it seemed a bizarre project, ill-conceived and ill-promoted. Within 48 hours it looked effectively dead as fans took to the streets to protest. Chelsea, then Manchester City, sheepishly withdrew. Liverpool owner John W. Henry gave an odd, mournful address, acknowledging he had misjudged the mood. There was a brief moment when it seemed that football might be heading for a reset, that something other than commercial concerns may become a consideration. That seems very naïve now.
The Super League has not gone away; it’s just that it’s being introduced by increment and under the auspices of UEFA. The new Champions League format that will be adopted from 2024 will see the eight groups of four format replaced by the so-called Swiss model of 36 teams: Each club will play 10 other sides once, with the top eight progressing into the last 16 and the next 16 entering a playoff for the other eight slots.
The claim is that the Swiss model will lead to fewer dead rubbers, although it’s not yet clear just how big an advantage avoiding the playoff round will be. Certainly any real jeopardy for the biggest clubs will be minimal, and this will add four more games to already crowded schedules. The present format tends to lack drama; the new format just feels like an even longer slog before the knockouts. But the bigger issue is who will occupy the additional four places in the group stage.
