ESL BOSSES: WE WILL KICK OFF IN 2025

PROMOTERS of the European Super League are confident a new competition can be in place for 2025 – with or without English clubs.

Premier League sides have held fresh talks with A22 Sports Management about a breakaway tournament since a landmark court ruling in December said UEFA and FIFA “acted unlawfully” by blocking the initial ESL in 2021.

And with the case returning to the Madrid Commercial Court today, Super League backers believe there will be an avalanche effect once a club commits to their format.

Spanish judges, who referred the initial case to the European Court of Justice, will apply the recommended ruling published by the continent’s top court in December, leaving the door ajar for a new competition controlled directly by clubs.

Led by Barcelona and Real Madrid, they are hopeful of having a rival to the Champions League in place for the 2025-26 campaign and discussions with English teams behind the scenes have been described as “open-minded”.

But hurdles remain. UEFA have changed their regulations and retain the support of FAS across Europe.

The European Clubs Association, which represents more than 200 clubs and is led by Paris Saintgermain chief Nasser Al-khelaifi, is vehemently opposed to the idea.

And the arrival of an independent regulator in English football could be a barrier for Premier League clubs.

Yet those obstacles have not slowed talks behind the scenes and A22 have been targeting clubs from outside Europe’s “big five” leagues including Scotland.

Super League officials are confident that more than a dozen clubs are ready to commit.

Barca chief Joan Laporta last month named 15 clubs who he claimed are “ready to join”, including both Milan sides and Portugal’s big three, but denials followed from Roma, Marseille and Feyenoord.

A22 have already unveiled a competition structure that would see three divisions featuring 64 clubs and promotion and relegation.

But they want participating clubs to be in charge and the format is “open to refinement” if there is a groundswell of opinion.

Despite a huge backlash to the ESL in 2021 (supporters protest, top), the promoters last week published a poll claiming 65 percent of English fans were in favour of a Super League.