European Super League proposal: Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack on likely impact on Scotland

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Super League protest at ChelseaImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Fans demonstrate against the creation of the European Super League

Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack is already talking to other clubs because he believes the European Court of Justice's ruling "will be the Trojan horse towards" a European Super League.

The ECJ says banning clubs from joining the ESL was unlawful and Uefa and Fifa are "abusing a dominant position".

In a statement on Thursday, Celtic ruled out any involvement in the ESL.

But Cormack expects the ESL to happen and that it will mean huge changes in Scottish football.

"This ruling will most likely change European football forever," he said on X, formerly Twitter.

"This will be the Trojan horse towards a European Super League and ultimately cross-border leagues, because when the biggest clubs leave their national leagues the commercial value for the remaining teams will plunge.

"Replacing the three European competitions will be approximately 60 clubs forming three leagues based on ranking and being guaranteed a minimum 14 European club games each season.

"The only opportunity for clubs ranked 61+ will be to go through qualification rounds to enter the third league only, where there will be relegation."

Cormack says he has already held talks with "like-minded clubs" designed to ensure access to European football, because the consequence of the court ruling and advent of the ESL would be to double the financial gap between Celtic and Rangers and the rest of Scottish football.

"As usual, in Scotland, we have slept-walked our way into this without any discussion. Your board at Aberdeen FC has been expecting this decision for some time," he added.

"Throughout our history, including this season's group stages, the appetite for European football if anything has grown significantly.

"We are working with like-minded clubs across Europe to make sure we do our utmost to deliver European club competition with similarly competitive clubs, the absence of which will lead to double the current gap in finances versus Celtic and Rangers, who will be included in those 60 ranked teams."

The case was brought to the ECJ by the ESL and its backers, who claimed Uefa and Fifa were breaking competition law by threatening to sanction those who joined the breakaway league.

Following the judgement, Uefa said it was "confident in the robustness" of rules while ESL backers A22 have released revamped proposals.

Scottish authorities 'support' Uefa as Celtic reject ESL idea

In a joint statement between the Scottish FA, SPFL and SWPL, they say they "continue to support Uefa" and "the principle of open competition".

They add they will "examine fully" any potential "implications for the game in Scotland" and work on "how best to protect and enhance the complementary balance of domestic and international club football".

Meanwhile, Celtic ruled out any involvement in the European Super League in a statement of their own.

It read: "The resolution regarding the framework for prior authorisation of other competitions refers to outdated Uefa statutes that were already amended in June 2022.

"We must be clear that this does not in any way endorse or approve the so-called 'Super League' project.

"We are fully committed to working through the European Club Association (ECA) alongside our fellow European clubs to uphold the values that define European football.

"We can only achieve our objectives through the strong partnership ECA enjoys with Uefa.

"The wider European football community is not supportive of the ESL, and Celtic will continue to promote the interests and protection of football's broader family through the ECA and Uefa."