Football Supporters Europe Statement on European Super League
Led by the UEFA-recognised Football Supporters Europe, which My Old Man Said (MOMS) is a long-term member, fan groups across Europe came together to condemn plans by a selection of Europe’s biggest clubs to form a breakaway European Super League. MOMS joined fan groups of the top 200 ranked UEFA clubs and previous European competition winners in signing a statement that clearly sets out why such a European Super League will be to the detriment of the domestic leagues, destroying and compromising competitions with rich history.
While there is need for reform in English football, especially at a governance level, the Europe Super League is akin to a money and power grab for a few select clubs, who want to dampen the concept of sporting competition and safeguard themselves financially, so they can make even more money.
Real Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool and Manchester United have been linked to the latest version of a competition that would include 15 permanent members in a 20-team competition kicking off in the 2022-23 season. They would still play in domestic leagues on weekends.
Member clubs would play at least 18 Super League games compared to a guaranteed six games in the current Champions League format.
The European Super League has been seen in recent months to be leveraging the Covid-19 pandemic to position itself as a solution to all ills, in self interest. First it reared its head when there was a dispute between the Premier League and EFL over a care package to help the EFL Pyramid. Now with the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona riddled in multi-million pound debt, the Super League is appearing to these big clubs as a remedy to their vast loss of match-day revenue due to behind-closed-doors matches in their huge empty stadiums.
The FSE’s statement in full below…
Football Supporters Europe Statement on European Super League Proposals
This statement is signed by a wide cross section of European fans, including national fans’ organisations, fans of the top 200 ranked UEFA clubs, fans of clubs that reportedly back a breakaway league, and fans of previous winners of European competitions.
It would destroy the European model of sport, which is based on commonly accepted principles such as sporting merit, promotion and relegation, qualification to European competitions via domestic success, and financial solidarity. In the process, it would also undermine the economic foundations of European football, concentrating even more wealth and power in the hands of a dozen or so elite clubs.
We recognise that the game is in desperate need of broad reform. But proposals to this end must seek to revive the competitive balance in European competitions, protect domestic leagues, promote the interests of fans, and encourage fairer revenue distribution. A European Super League would achieve none of these objectives—quite the opposite.
Sporting Merit & European Competitions
The reasoning behind a closed breakaway league is simple: it allows big clubs to succeed off the pitch even when they fail on it. It is anti-competitive by design. It does away with the magic of the cup, snatches the dream of seeing your club play in Europe, and goes against the very spirit of the game.
This approach is profoundly unjust and counterproductive. We believe all clubs must have an equal opportunity to qualify for European competitions based on hard work, determination, and skill, not the size of their balance sheet or past glories.
Protect Domestic Competitions
A Super League would further undercut domestic competitions, exacerbating existing inequalities within and between leagues—in part by adding more European games to an already congested calendar and giving the wealthiest clubs an even bigger advantage through increased revenue.
We care first and foremost about how our clubs fare in domestic leagues and cups. We refuse to let them become second class competitions. We want to strengthen, not weaken them.
Defend Fans & Fan Culture
The pandemic has shown yet again how crucial fans are to the spectacle and survival of football, from the Champions League to the amateur game. We have supported clubs—financially and otherwise—despite not being able to attend games and suffering the effects of an economic crisis in our everyday lives.
This solidarity should be recognised, not exploited. There are limits to the amount of time and money fans can invest in football, and a Super League pushes well beyond them.
We do not want or need more European games. And we are tired of paying for the fantasy of ever-increasing wages, transfer fees, and profits, as well as the financial mismanagement of some.
Fairer Revenue Distribution & Sustainability
The current economic model of European football is deeply flawed. A handful of clubs are awash in money, while a significant number have too little, and in many countries the grassroots game teeters on the brink of collapse. A Super League would make this situation much worse by allowing big clubs to monopolise profits and endangering the existing solidarity and redistribution system.
We want a more equitable distribution of European football revenue to protect all leagues and clubs, making them more competitive at the domestic and European levels.
Dialogue with Fans & Other Stakeholders
A Super League would make European football more unequal, less competitive, and, ultimately, unsustainable. While reform is needed, it should not come in the shape of an ultimatum from wealthy clubs seeking to benefit from an unprecedented public health crisis.
We therefore call for meaningful multi-stakeholder consultation on any proposals to restructure the European game, including fans and their representatives.
We will also closely monitor all attempts to change the existing format of European club competitions, measuring them against the principles outlined above, and will further oppose any attempts to impose a Super League by the backdoor.
SIGNED BY:
National Supporters’ Organisations
Tifozat Kuq e Zi (Albania)
Belgian Supporters (Belgium)
Danske Fodbold Fans (Denmark)
The Football Supporters’ Association (England)
Association Nationale des Supporters (France)
SMJK/Pohjoiskaarre (Finland)
Bündnis aktiver Fussball Fans (Germany)
F_in Frauen im Fussball (Germany)
Queer Football Fanclubs (Germany)
Unsere Kurve (Germany)
Supporterscollectief Nederland (Netherlands)
Associação Portuguesa de Defesa do Adepto (Portugal)
Amalgamation of Official Northern Ireland Supporters’ Clubs (Northern Ireland)
Irish Supporters Network (Republic of Ireland)
SD Scotland (Scotland)
Aficiones Unidas (Spain)
Federación de Accionistas y Socios del Fútbol Español (Spain)
Taraftar Hakları Derneği (Turkey)
Taraf-Der (Turkey)
FSA Cymru (Wales)
Club Supporters’ Groups
Supportersfederatie KAA Gent (KAA Gent / Belgium)
Brøndby Support (Brøndby IF / Denmark)
Fanafdelingen i Brøndbyernes Idrætsforening (Brøndby IF / Denmark)
FCK Fan Club (FC København / Denmark)
Black Wolves (FC Midtjylland / Denmark)
Arsenal Supporters Trust (Arsenal / England)
Arsenal Independent Supporters’ Association (Arsenal / England)
My Old Man Said (Aston Villa / England)
Clarets Trust (Burnley / England)
Burnley FC Supporters Groups (Burnley / England)
Chelsea Supporters Trust (Chelsea / England)
Chelsea Supporters Club (Chelsea / England)
The Blue Union (Everton / England)
Everton Fans Forum (Everton / England)
Leeds United Supporters’ Trust (Leeds United / England)
Foxes Trust (Leicester City / England)
Spirit of Shankly – Liverpool Supporters Union (Liverpool / England)
Liverpool Disabled Supporters Association (Liverpool / England)
Manchester City Supporters Club (Manchester City / England)
The 1894 Group (Manchester City / England)
Manchester United Supporters’ Trust (Manchester United / England)
Newcastle United Supporters Trust (Newcastle United / England)
Nottingham Forest Supporters’ Trust (Nottingham Forest / England)
The Ugly Inside (Southampton / England)
Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust (Tottenham Hotspur / England)
West Ham United Independent Supporters’ Association (West Ham United / England)
West Ham Official Supporters’ Club (West Ham United / England)
Wolverhampton Wanderers Fans’ Parliament (Wolverhampton Wanderers / England)
Ultramarines Bordeaux 1987 (FC Girondins de Bordeaux / France)
Bad Gones 1987 (Olympique Lyonnais / France)
Lyon 1950 (Olympique Lyonnais / France)
Collectif Ultras Paris (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ultrem 1995 (Stade de Reims / France)
Ultras Boys 90 (RC Strasbourg Alsace / France)
Roazhon Celtic Kop 1991 (Stade Rennais / France)
FanRat e.V. (1.FC Magdeburg / Germany)
Südkurve 1. FC Köln (1. FC Köln / Germany)
Fanabteilung Mainz 05 (1. FSV Mainz 05 / Germany)
Supporters Mainz e.V. (1. FSV Mainz 05 / Germany)
Nordkurve Leverkusen (Bayer 04 Leverkusen / Germany)
Südkurve München (Bayern München / Germany)
BVB Fanabteilung (Borussia Dortmund / Germany)
Südtribüne Dortmund (Borussia Dortmund / Germany)
Nordkurve Mönchengladbach (Borussia Mönchengladbach / Germany)
Nordwestkurve Frankfurt (Eintracht Frankfurt / Germany)
Förderkreis Nordtribüne e.V. (Hamburger SV / Germany)
Förderkreis Ostkurve e.V. (Hertha BSC / Germany)
HSV Supporters Club (Hamburger SV / Germany)
Ultras Gelsenkirchen (Schalke 04 / Germany)
Supporters Crew Freiburg e.V. (SC Freiburg / Germany)
Dachverband Bremer Fanclubs (Werder Bremen / Germany)
L’Intesa Verde (Werder Bremen / Germany)
Supporters Wolfsburg e.V. (VfL Wolfsburg / Germany)
Supportersvereniging Ajax (AFC Ajax / Netherlands)
AFCA Supportersclub (AFC Ajax / Netherlands)
Supportersvereniging AZ (AZ Alkmaar / Netherlands)
Supportersbeweging Victoria Alkmaar (AZ Alkmaar / Netherlands)
FSV De Feijenoorder (Feyenoord Rotterdam / Netherlands)
Supportersvereniging Hart voor Heracles (Heracles Almelo / Netherlands)
Supportersvereniging PSV (PSV Eindhoven / Netherlands)
Supportersvereniging FC Utrecht (FC Utrecht / Netherlands)
Vitesse Is Van Ons (SBV Vitesse Arnhem / Netherlands)
Stichting KingZine (Willem II / Netherlands)
Supportersclub Willem II (Willem II / Netherlands)
Diabos Vermelhos (SL Benfica / Portugal)
Bracara Legion (SC Braga / Portugal)
Red Boys Braga (SC Braga / Portugal)
Colectivo Ultras 95 (FC Porto / Portugal)
Super Dragões (FC Porto / Portugal)
Brigada Ultras Sporting (Sporting CP / Portugal)
Directivo Ultras XXI (Sporting CP / Portugal)
Torcida Verde (Sporting CP / Portugal)
Juventude Leonina (Sporting CP / Portugal)
Insane Guys (Vitória Sport Clube / Portugal)
Grupo 1922 (Vitória Sport Clube / Portugal)
CSKA Fans Against Racism (CSKA Moscow / Russia)
The Killie Trust (Kilmarnock / Scotland)
Cherrybank Blues (St Johnstone / Scotland)
28 Athletic Club de Bilbao peñas (Athletic Club de Bilbao / Spain)
Señales de Humo (Atlético Madrid / Spain)
Replicantes 1903 (Atlético Madrid / Spain)
Seguiment FCB (FC Barcelona / Spain)
Associació de Petits i Mitjans Accionistes del Espanyol – APMAE (RCD Espanyol / Spain)
Movimiento Ambar (Real Madrid / Spain)
RealSocialismo! (Real Sociedad / Spain)
Izarra Taldea (Real Sociedad / Spain)
Asociación de pequeños Accionistas del Real Zaragoza – APARZ (Real Zaragoza / Spain)
Accionistas Unidos Sevilla FC, SAD (Sevilla FC / Spain)
Federación de Peñas Sevillistas “San Fernando” (Sevilla FC / Spain)
Asociacion Pequeño Accionista del Valencia CF – APAVCF (Valencia CF / Spain)
Libertad VCF (Valencia CF / Spain)
Ostkurve Bern (BSC Young Boys / Switzerland)
gäubschwarzsüchtig – GSS (BSC Young Boys / Switzerland)
Beleştepe (Beşiktaş / Turkey)
Çarşı (Beşiktaş / Turkey)
1907 ÜNIFEB (Fenerbahçe / Turkey)
