European Super League Not Going Away - Brendan Rodgers

Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers believes that the European Super League (ESL) is here to stay.

Rodgers expressed his thoughts on the proposed ESL in a press conference ahead of Saturday's Premier League match at home to Tottenham.

"It was clear, especially in this country, what the supporters thought about it but I don't think it will go away, that's the reality of it.

"There's a reform coming in 2024 of the Champions League and various other forms of the European game, so I don't expect it to go away.

"We need to keep a close eye on it as, in domestic football, the supporters don't deserve to be intruded on and how you get into this [proposed ESL] is important as well", he said.

News on the ESL having a new-look had made the rounds on Thursday morning.

The competition's chief executive Bernd Reichart told German newspaper Die Welt that the Super League could contain up to 80 teams in a multi-divisional format and teams would be guaranteed a minimum of 14 matches per season.

He also disclosed that the new-look Super League would be an open competition, with qualification achieved via performance at national level and with all its teams competing in their domestic leagues.

The fresh plans contrasts the original plans for the Super League in 2021.

A22, a company formed to sponsor and assist with the creation of the Super League, had said in 2021 that the competition involved 20 teams plus five clubs who would have qualified annually based on their domestic achievements.

The company however couldn't create the ESL as UEFA and FIFA received significant backing in their bid to block the formation of the competition. 

A legal battle ensued in the European Court of Justice thereafter as A22 challenged UEFA and FIFA's right to block the formation of the Super League and sanction the competing clubs in the courts, arguing the governing bodies are abusing a dominant position under EU competition law.

But, the Advocate General in the case in December delivered a non-binding opinion, saying rules allowing UEFA and FIFA to block the formation of new competitions were "compatible with EU competition law."

The final ruling in the case will be delivered by the European Court of Justice later this year.