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A fan holds up a banner protesting against the European Super League. A new European Super League. PA Images/Alamy Images

Which teams are aligned with, against proposed European Super League?

By Alyssa Clang | Last updated 12/22/23

The European Super League — a proposed breakaway tournament designed to challenge UEFA's Champions League — scored a major win Thursday when the European Court of Justice ruled in its favor over soccer's governing bodies.

While the league has not officially been established, the European Court of Justice's ruling paves the way to make it reality in the near future.

The Super League idea came from some of Europe's biggest soccer clubs, many of which lamented the financial risk involved in current tournaments. Clubs earn places in the Champions League by performing well in domestic competitions, and those Champions League places generate millions of dollars in revenue for clubs that receive them. One bad season — such as Chelsea's in 2022-23 — could see those millions handed to a competitor instead, however.

The Super League would protect the interests of big European clubs by keeping them in high-value continental tournaments regardless of their domestic performances. Meanwhile, smaller "challenger" clubs would suffer in turn, forced to perform well for multiple seasons to receive similar benefits.

With the Super League back on the table, Europe's biggest clubs must decide whether they're more interested in protecting the standards of continental soccer or protecting their own accounts.

Which clubs have aligned with which leagues? Here's what we know so far.

Super League supporters

Four big European teams have thrown their weight behind the new Super League: Real Madrid and Barcelona of Spain and Juventus and Napoli of Italy.

Napoli president De Laurentiis on Super League: “I spoke to Florentino Pérez and we agree on meeting with other entrepreneurs to discuss about future plans”.

“Football is being managed by old people with no vision”, told Corriere dello Sport. pic.twitter.com/KoYbOGk1x7
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 22, 2023

For Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus, Super League support is nothing new. The three clubs have worked tirelessly to advance the Super League's interests since its initial (unsuccessful) launch in 2021.

While their reasons for supporting it are complex, it's worth mentioning that both Barcelona and Juventus have found themselves under scrutiny for breaking European soccer's financial regulations. Joining a new Super League — and breaking free of traditional regulations — might free them of fines and sanctions.

Napoli, though, is a new addition to the alliance. The team shocked the world last season by winning the Italian championship for the first time in nearly 30 years. Napoli's interest in the Super League is likely self-serving; the club may not stay at the top of the European pyramid without its protections.

Super League rejectors

Many of Europe's elite soccer clubs have thrown their weight behind the Champions League instead. Here is a rundown:

GERMANY: The German top division has unilaterally rejected the Super League and has since the Super League's founding in 2021. German teams are famously fan-owned and focused on protecting grassroots soccer. The Super League flies in the face of everything they support. That means Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Bayer Leverkusen and others will not be involved in the breakaway competition.

ENGLAND: The Premier League has allowed its clubs to decide on their Super League intentions, and many have been quick to reject it. Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, Manchester City and Manchester United have thrown their weight behind the Champions League instead.

SPAIN: Atletico Madrid, Real Sociedad and Sevilla have aligned themselves with the Champions League, in direct opposition to compatriots Real Madrid and Barcelona.

ITALY: AS Roma and Inter Milan have roundly rejected the Super League.

FRANCE: All of France's biggest clubs — including Qatari-owned Paris Saint-Germain — have rejected the Super League.

Undecided clubs

Italy's AC Milan is the biggest "undecided" name in European soccer. Milan finds itself in an interesting position, as it was recently purchased by American firm RedBird Capital Partners and wants to make a bigger name for itself around the world.

While many Milan fans hope it will join crosstown-rival Inter Milan in rejecting the Super League, there's a chance the club's growth-focused owners will support the entrepreneurial spirit of the breakaway competition.

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