Introduction: ‘A spectre is haunting European football–the spectre of a European Super League’

Abstract

Whilst there is a romantic myth that the European Cup was developed for sporting reasons, power, nationalism and money were significant factors. Since the formation of the European Cup in 1955, European competitions have grown in prestige and finances. The spectre of a breakaway Super League has been used repeatedly to assert the power of elite clubs. In 1992, the result was the Champions League which established a league format providing more televised games, more money and more opportunity for larger clubs to proceed in the competition. The threat of a Super League led UEFA to redesign the format of the Champions League to privilege larger clubs. Despite this, a Super League was still announced, before facing widespread resistance. This article sets up the special issue by contextualising the current Champions League in the aftermath of the Super League.