German Reichart appointed CEO of company promoting Super League

Published on: 10/19/2022 – 04:38Amended: 10/19/2022 – 04:36

The former boss of the RTL media group in Germany, Reichart, 48, is taking control of A22 Sports Management, the European sports business development company announced on Wednesday.

“Reichart’s initial aim will be to engage in an active and in-depth dialogue with a full group of football stakeholders, including clubs, players, coaches, supporters, media and policy makers,” said A22 Sports. Management in a press release.

“The aim is to facilitate the development of a sustainable sporting model for European club competitions that reflects the long-term and mutual best interests of fans and the wider football community.”

Launched by 12 top European clubs, plans to supplant the Champions League in spring 2021 have fizzled amid the fury of many fans and the threat of political action.

Three of the clubs – Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus – continue to campaign for the Super League with a dispute over an alleged abuse of dominance by UEFA set to be settled in early 2023 by the European Court of Justice.

In response, UEFA launched a major reform of the Champions League for 2024, with 36 teams instead of 32, and an eight-day mini-league instead of the traditional group stage.

“The current situation in European club football is characterized by a number of challenges which will not resolve themselves,” said Reichart, a specialist in media and sports rights, who notably worked for the Spanish media group Atresmedia and CEO of the German group. RTL from 2019 to 2021.

“The presidents of Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, ​​as well as the president of Juventus FC have recently given their views on the problems facing the sport,” he continued.

“I think they are asking the right questions and I am personally keen to listen to many different voices so that the European football community can find the right answers together.

“The game we all love will benefit from an honest and open dialogue, without constraints, about a better future through serious reform.”

© 2022 AFP