On April 18, 2021, the official news was presented.
“Leading clubs announce new super league.
Twelve of Europe's leading clubs are to form a new 'midweek tournament', the Super League, under the auspices of the clubs."
With Spain's Real Madrid and Italy's Juventus at the forefront, the Super League was described as the wishful thinking of twelve top clubs to create their own locked league and secure their dominance sportingly, but mainly financially, during a pandemic that had caused a lack of revenue.
Through secret talks, behind-the-scenes negotiations and promises of billion-dollar contracts to the clubs concerned, the Super League would become a reality.
- The concept of the super league was born many years ago.
Their strategy was clear, they planned a revolution against Uefa, says Spanish La Liga president Javier Tebas in the documentary Super League: The Rise and Fall of Greed.
The fury of a soccer world
The European football association Uefa, which was initially hesitant to comment, put its foot down in a press release.
And the reactions from the outside world followed.
Supporters, club owners, journalists and even politicians, led by then British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, directed sharp criticism.
- The story about the super league was no shock.
The shock was that it became a reality, says Adam Crafton, journalist at The Athletic.
Among the leading figures behind the Super League were Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez, one of Manchester United's owners Joe Glazer and Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli.
Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin talks about a phone call before the official presentation of the Super League, and how Agnelli lied about the plans until the very end.
- It is hard to understand how immoral some people can be.
I asked about the rumors I had heard about the Super League.
He replied that it was a lie and that I should not believe it.
Then he turned off the phone, says .
Three days after the announcement, when the English clubs dropped out, Agnelli spoke out.
- I remain convinced of the value the project would have added.
But I don't think the project is sustainable anymore.
Watch the full documentary Super League: The Rise and Fall of Greed here.
The twelve clubs that founded the super league and their representatives have declined to participate in the documentary.