It took the UEFA and 12 top-life football clubs simply hours to reach a you-and-me situation. Real Madrid, Manchester United, Juventus and the other nine want a "European Super League" in which they can enjoy juicy revenues without worrying about Robin Hood. The UEFA refuses to give way. Instead, it decided to add more teams to the Champions League and has a new format in place, which will take effect in four years.
Though the top European football governing body and the heavyweight clubs have rarely been best friends, things have never been so at daggers drawn with each other before. European football is standing at a crossroads in terms of its future. What comes next?
A football fan protests against European Super League at Elland Road, Leeds, England, 19 April, 2021. /CFP
Aleksander Ceferin, president of the UEFA. /CFP
Host: Li Xiang
Guest: Josh McNally
Cover designer: Feng Yuan
Chief editor: Chen Ran
Supervisor: Zhang Shilei