Super League Faces Skepticism from La Liga Head Javier Tebas

On Tuesday, Javier Tebas, the influential head of Spain’s football league, vehemently criticized the proposed new format for the Super League. Tebas asserted that the suggested competition structure fails to comply with European sports law. A22, the company promoting the Super League, recently unveiled a revised model following an EU court ruling in December that potentially opened avenues for alternative competitions.

Despite A22’s efforts to challenge UEFA’s Champions League by introducing elements like promotion and relegation in its new 60-team format, Tebas remains unconvinced. He expressed skepticism about A22’s ability to persuade leagues and clubs, accusing Super League chiefs of deceptive tactics. Tebas specifically pointed to A22’s envisioned promotion and relegation system, characterizing it as a deceptive maneuver that effectively results in a closed competition.

Additionally, Tebas dismissed A22’s claim that the league could be entirely free for fans, likening it to a magic trick by referencing the illusionist David Copperfield.

In December, A22 presented its revamped Super League format, aiming to revive the competition that initially launched but quickly collapsed in April 2021, leading to prolonged legal disputes. Several top European clubs promptly rejected the new proposal.

Tebas anticipates a Madrid court to implement the EU Court of Justice’s ruling before the summer, underscoring the ongoing legal challenges surrounding the Super League.