In an interview, Jurgen Klopp, the manager of Liverpool, discussed the case of the European Super League. It appears that they are taking the formation of the league seriously. UEFA, in their fight against the league, has decided to raise the prize money for the Champions League in order to counter present and future threats.
There is no doubt that both organizations will use their financial power to protect their interests. Let’s examine the kind of changes UEFA is aiming for.
In December 2023, the highest court of the European Union ruled in favor of the European Super League. They stated that UEFA cannot prevent them from starting a new competition as no one has a monopoly on the sport. Consequently, the ESL once again became a factor. Now, in order to keep the top clubs loyal and away from their competitors, UEFA plans to generate a budget of $5 billion from 2024 to 2027.
Significantly, the prize money for qualifying for the elite competition will significantly increase. The teams will also receive more funding as they continue to win games and progress to the next round. Additionally, the women’s and youth competitions will not be ignored in their plans to dominate the soccer community. A total of $26 million will be allocated for them, according to reports.
It seems that UEFA is not willing to wait and see in their battle against the European Super League. However, this is not the first setback the league has faced this month in their endeavors.
In a previous interview, Joan Laporta, the president of Barcelona, mentioned how the European Super League faced opposition from various clubs. He also named several clubs that had agreed to join the league. However, once the names of the clubs became public, some of them, including AS Roma, Feyenoord, Marseille, and AFC Ajax, rejected the claims and made it clear that they were against the league.
Florentino Perez, the president of Real Madrid, also made similar claims about clubs joining the league. However, he did not disclose the names of the clubs due to UEFA’s attention.
Stay tuned for updates on the European Super League. What are your thoughts on the increased prize money for the UEFA Champions League? Let us know in the comments.