Football
ESPN staff 8y

Barcelona financial chief wants European League that clubs control

Barcelona's financial vice-president has backed the idea of a European Super League, saying a new competition should be promoted "from a position where clubs are in control."

Susana Monje's comments came amid growing speculation that clubs are considering a breakaway league that would be outside the control of European football's governing body UEFA.

She told La Vanguardia: "We must promote a European league from a position where clubs are in control.

"Right now, we depend on organisations like UEFA or FIFA, whose management can be improved, and that is the clearest of objectives that the club must pursue."

But on Tuesday, Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told FAZ that both clubs and UEFA were considering a third European competition that would be placed above the Champions League and the Europa League.

"The clubs and UEFA are in a discussion phase right now," Rummenigge, who is also the chairman of the European Club Association, said.

In late February, senior officials from Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool were pictured at the Dorchester Hotel in London after meeting representatives of Relevent Sport, the organisers of the preseason International Champions Cup.

Each club denied discussing a breakaway tournament from UEFA, and FAZ said the European body was involved in plans for a third competition.

The German paper claimed UEFA planned "an evolution of the club competitions," and that qualification for the new Super League could be down to the "attractiveness of the clubs and their importance in marketing."

Rummenigge, speaking as the ECA chairman, did not confirm the plans but admitted that discussions had taken place.

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