Soccer Football - Champions League - Group H - Celtic v Real Madrid - Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain - September 6, 2022 Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti shakes hands with Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou after the match Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith
Celtic are reported to be on the wish list of another proposal to form a European Super League.
In April 2021 a 12 team elite competition was announced but the backlash from fans, especially in England saw the plan ditched within one week.
Barcelona, Juventus and Real Madrid have never dropped their interest with rumours and reports of alternative plans being put together.
Mindful of the power and desire of major clubs to retain more of the money raised from broadcasting and sponsorship deals UEFA are planning to expand the Champions League from the start of the 24/25 season.
Where Celtic stand or fit in with those plans isn’t quite known but this afternoon The Mirror reported:
UEFA chiefs are getting increasingly nervous about the legal battle surrounding the European Super League.
And a new, revised version could yet include a proposal to Scottish Old Firm giants Celtic and Rangers because they would be seen as a huge draw for any future breakaway. But it would effectively freeze out Premier League clubs unless a new compromise competition could be found.
Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus are still locked into a court case – which is likely to be concluded in December – as they are challenging UEFA’s control and monopoly on European football after they blocked the ESL.
The three superpowers are determined to press ahead with their legal action as they are fed-up of UEFA having too much power, effectively being the governors of the game but also the main commercial partners while the clubs take all the risk.
There is also a growing feeling throughout the rest of Europe that the Premier League has become too powerful, too strong and their multi-billion TV deals makes it impossible for La Liga, Serie A and the Bundesliga to compete.
UEFA have already proposed a new-look Champions League from 2024 and they may win the legal case but even if Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus do not win they may get a partial judgement in their favour which would reopen the prospect of a revised breakaway.
Barcelona and Juventus have failed to qualify for the last 16 of this season’s Champions League, dropping down to the Europa League.
Over the last decade the route to the Champions League for most nations has contracted with four qualifying rounds and less places available with the top four ranked countries getting four guaranteed group places.
In season 2012/13 Celtic only required to beat the champions of Finlald and Sweden to qualify for the group phase.
Since the mid nineties I’ve said that eventually clubs would have fwo teams: one for playing in Europe which will pay premium wages and charge premium prices and another team made of youngsters and a slightly lower level of player.
O e team would play mid-week and the other at tge weekend. This scenario keeps one team in the domestic league while also participating in a new European league.
This would involve the corporate structure (yes that Old chestnut) of clubs altering to allow two separate entities to reside under one main company.
Separating the two would prevent sanctions against clubs as the original clubs still remain in their original leagues under their domestic associations.
The main issue that remains would be the inability of the European league players to represent their nations at major tournaments.
Greed has destroyed our sport and unfortunately will continue to do so.