LONDON: Plans for a European superleague comprising the continent’s top 20 clubs, which would replace the Champions League within five years are being actively discussed, the president of Galatasaray said on Thursday.
Unal Aysal, one of Turkey’s most successful businessmen who became Galatasaray president two years ago, was speaking at the Leaders in Football industry conference.
His comments were confirmed by Andrea Agnelli, the president of Juventus, who told delegates that an academic discussion about the future of European club soccer had started among top clubs.
While Agnelli was more considered in his responses, saying that the current format needed to be looked at and that the Europa League especially required revitalization, Aysal was far more expansive.
But Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the chairman of the European Clubs Association, which has a five-year agreement with European soccer’s governing body UEFA ensuring the future of the Champions League, dismissed the claims and said no such plan was on the agenda.
Aysal, though, did not mince his words when he spoke to reporters after appearing before delegates at the Conference.
“Changing things brings new energy and synergy to the system,” he said.
“We have arrived in a stagnant situation in European football, we are not improving too much. This will open a new chapter in European football.
“The top 15-20 big clubs of Europe all agree with this.
“There may be one or two exceptions for local reasons, political reasons, and I will understand, but as the future for European clubs and the future of football, nobody can say no to this.
“At the moment it looks like a dream, a vision, I am sure sooner or later, in a maximum of five years time, it will be a reality.
Aysal said the league was the future of football and needed to be set up as soon as possible.
“Football is a great industry, a growing industry. A European super league would bring a lot of support and energise football in general,” he said.
“I think it would be 20 big teams, with three to five teams changing every year. It can be fixed in a way to be useful to European football and bring new horizons to football.
“It can be controlled by UEFA or the clubs — preferably by the clubs. Clubs will have to reach standards set by certain criteria like financial fair play. It would be good for all European clubs to participate in this league.” Aysal said the starting-point might be the 20 biggest clubs breaking away from UEFA but a spokesman for the ruling body said it was not aware of any plans to form a new league.
Agnelli, 37, who has been president of Juventus for nearly four years, told delegates: “If one wants to break out of the system then probably the best competition is a closed competition with the 20 best European clubs,” he said.
“We can have a secession but do 20 clubs have the discipline to send a letter to UEFA and to organize a competition overnight?” Agnelli later clarified his comments to reporters by saying he was merely taking an “academic” position.
“If you are part of a system you accept that system and want to improve the system,” he said.
The Champions League, which replaced the European Cup in 1992-93, has grown to be widely accepted as the premier club competition in global sport, generating billions in revenue every season.
“Our European Super League is the UEFA Champions League,” Rummenigge said in a statement. “We are very happy with the current competitions and our extremely fruitful collaboration with UEFA.
“We will continue to work together with UEFA, and this beyond 2018.
“The ECA has taken note of comments made today regarding the alleged creation of a European Super League in 2018. ECA underlines that such an idea was never discussed within the association and never figured on any meeting agenda.” Aysal also said two major brands had expressed an interest in sponsoring a new league, adding that he did not expect clubs to break away from their domestic leagues but to have squads of 40 or 50 players, some of whom would play domestic league matches and others European games.
New European superleague under discussion
New European superleague under discussion
Saudi rally driver sets her sights on the fast lane
- With podium finishes at home and ambitions abroad, Mashael Al-Howaish is ready for the next race
- Rally Jameel remained a defining chapter in Al-Howaish’s journey, exposing her to the demands of desert racing and pushing her beyond familiar limits
MAKKAH: What began as a chance encounter with motorsport has evolved into a growing rallying career for Saudi driver Mashael Al-Howaish.
With a growing list of domestic achievements and ambitions that extend beyond the Kingdom’s borders, Al-Howaish is carving out her place in a discipline defined by endurance, precision and mental resilience.
Her first exposure to rally driving came as she emceed the second Rally Jameel in 2023, the region’s first women-only navigational rally.
Witnessing the participants’ determination and competitiveness sparked Al-Howaish’s curiosity about motorsport and encouraged her to explore the possibility of competing herself.
A recommendation from Saudi rally driver Abdullah Bakhashab opened the door to her first professional opportunity with Lexus, marking the start of her rally career during the fourth Rally Jameel in 2024.
That quickly translated into results. As a Lexus team driver, Al-Howaish secured first place in her category and sixth overall among more than 40 participants.
Rally Jameel remained a defining chapter in her journey, exposing her to the demands of desert racing and pushing her beyond familiar limits. She continued to compete in subsequent editions, later earning second place overall and first in her category, before taking part in events at other race circuits across Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East and North Africa region.
Despite entering a traditionally male-dominated sport, Al-Howaish says she did not perceive her path as a challenging one.
Instead, she highlights the extensive support she received on multiple fronts, from Saudi Arabia’s leadership and the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation to corporate backing from Lexus.
She also credits her family, particularly her mother, for playing a vital role in shaping her confidence and determination long before she entered competitive racing.
Among her domestic successes, Al-Howaish considers her Time Attack victory in Jeddah last year as one of the most significant milestones of her career. One of her earliest races, it saw her progress steadily to first place in the Women’s Cup, reinforcing her belief in her own capabilities.
Another pivotal moment came in 2024, during the Racing Hill Climb, where she raced on mountainous terrain for the first time in Taif. The unfamiliar conditions tested her technical skills and adaptability, ultimately accelerating her development as a driver.
Competing at a high level has reshaped Al-Howaish both on and off the track. Racing alongside experienced champions has, she says, been both humbling and motivating.
Over time, she has developed a deeper understanding of the technical side of motorsport, spending increasing amounts of time studying vehicle dynamics and kinematics to better synchronize her driving style with the car. Personally, the sport has made her more confident in facing uncertainty, strengthening her ability to approach new challenges with focus rather than fear.
Al-Howaish is often viewed as a role model for Saudi women entering motorsport, something which makes her feel humble. She says she would be honored to inspire just one woman but believes role models exist across all levels of the industry. For her, progress comes from observing the strengths of others and applying those lessons to one’s own journey — a philosophy she sees as relevant far beyond motorsports.
Managing pressure and risk is an integral part of rallying, and Al-Howaish relies on preparation and composure to navigate intense stages. Planning ahead helps her mitigate challenges, while calm decision-making becomes crucial when conditions change unexpectedly.
In a sport where every second counts, she emphasizes that clarity and decisiveness often make the difference between success and setback.
Looking ahead, Al-Howaish has set her sights firmly on international competition. She aims to compete in the Middle East Rally Championship and hopes one day to line up at the start of the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia.
She is also eager to explore other racing formats, viewing the learning process itself as one of the most rewarding aspects of her career.
To young Saudi women who aspire to follow a similar path but hesitate because they fear failing, Al-Howaish offers a simple word of advice — start.
She believes progress begins with the first step, learning through experience and allowing confidence to grow over time.
In a rapidly evolving motorsports scene, her journey stands as a reflection of what is increasingly possible in Saudi Arabia — both on the road and beyond it.
