UEFA’s Strategic Move: Boosting Club Revenues to Counter Super League Threat
The looming threat of the Super League has prompted UEFA to take decisive action. The UEFA Executive Committee convened in Paris on Wednesday, approving its ‘United for Success’ strategy from 2024 to 2030. Clubs participating in the Champions League are set to witness a significant increase in their revenues.
For the period between 2024 and 2027, UEFA has set a threshold of €4.8 billion (€500 million more) for men’s club competitions. Out of the total revenue, €3.317 billion will be allocated to clubs participating in European competitions, including the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, Europa League, and Conference League. The first two competitions will receive nearly 75% of these revenues.
Ten percent of the total (€440 million) is earmarked for solidarity. €308 million will go to non-participating clubs, while the remaining funds will be distributed among clubs in the qualifying rounds.
These amounts will be distributed through three pillars: equal shares (27.5%), performance pillar (37.5%), and value pillar (35%). The first two have seen a 2.5% and 7.5% increase, respectively.
Competing with the Super League Historically, the revenues offered by the Champions League for participation couldn’t compete with the hypothetical Super League, which promised €100 million right from the start, compared to €15.64 million for participating in the Champions League group stage.
As highlighted by Laporta in his RAC1 interview, even winning the Champions League doesn’t match those figures: clubs receive €9.6 million for reaching the round of 16, €10.6 million for the quarterfinals, €12.5 million for the semifinals, and €15.5 million for being finalists. The champion gets an additional €20 million. It’s important to note that UEFA also awards €2.8 million for a victory and €930,000 for a draw.
The new figures With UEFA’s revised strategy, all these prizes increase (except for victories, which decrease to €2.1 million): €19 million for participation, €11 million for reaching the round of 16, €12 million for the quarterfinals, €15 million for the semifinals, €20 million for the final, and €25 million for the champion. The trophy holder could potentially see their earnings rise from the current approximately €85 million to around €155 million, reaching €200 million with market-pool and gate receipts.
These measures could serve to appease the forces behind the Super League, a longstanding objective for UEFA.
