A History of the European League.
The Chairmen and representatives of the various clubs involved sat around the table discussing their plans. UEFA had rejected the proposed Atlantic League on the grounds that the teams involved were already involved in professional national football leagues, and could see no reason for them to leave. That, however was not the opinion of the largest clubs within the nations concerned, who feared falling even further behind the clubs from the big five leagues in the continent. They feared a slow death not only of their clubs, but of the image of their domestic leagues should this scenario be allowed to continue.
It was at this point that Campbell Ogilvie, the representative from the Scottish club, Rangers put forward the idea that would revolutionise club football in Europe and keep everyone satisfied. They would both stay in the domestic league and play in the Atlantic League. The structure was agreed upon within two days with minor adjustments, the seven nations would form the first pan European League. It received the blessing of the respective national associations and, as the objection of UEFA had, officially at any rate been met, UEFA accepted the inevitable.
It was at this point the Euro League was formed.
The National Leagues who began Competing.
The Netherlands, Scotland, Portugal, Sweden, Belgium, Denmark and Norway.
The Proposals.
Each domestic top flight would consist of two groups of eight teams, the top and bottom group. The teams in each group would play each other twice. The top two teams in the top group would qualify for the Atlantic League. Following this departure in the domestic leagues, the two groups would merge and the remaining fourteen teams would play each other twice with points starting from zero again. The winner would win the domestic league, the bottom club would be relegated.
The two teams who left would join the other twelve from the other six nations to form the new Atlantic League. They would play each other twice with the top team winning the Atlantic League. Both the Atlantic League and the Domestic leagues would last from Febuary-May.
Domestic Cup Tournaments would remain unaffected by the new set-up.
Television and Advertising Revenue.
From the outset, the Atlantic League was one of the biggest in Europe with the potential of the likes of Ajax, Porto, Anderlecht, Celtic and IFK Gothenburg playing each other every week. As such, big revenue was pretty much a certainty. It was agreed that 80% of all revenue would be shared out between the teams competing in the Atlantic League, with 18% going to the domestic league during the group sections dependant on positions. It was agreed that current television deals in the respective nations be respected, with Atlantic League matches being shown in place of domestic league matches, but gradually this would be harmonised.
Start Date.
Season 2001-02 was already half way through, so it was agreed that the change would take place from season 2003-04 which would allow the Scandinavian nations who play football during the summer months time to adjust for the new set up.
The Chairmen and representatives of the various clubs involved sat around the table discussing their plans. UEFA had rejected the proposed Atlantic League on the grounds that the teams involved were already involved in professional national football leagues, and could see no reason for them to leave. That, however was not the opinion of the largest clubs within the nations concerned, who feared falling even further behind the clubs from the big five leagues in the continent. They feared a slow death not only of their clubs, but of the image of their domestic leagues should this scenario be allowed to continue.
It was at this point that Campbell Ogilvie, the representative from the Scottish club, Rangers put forward the idea that would revolutionise club football in Europe and keep everyone satisfied. They would both stay in the domestic league and play in the Atlantic League. The structure was agreed upon within two days with minor adjustments, the seven nations would form the first pan European League. It received the blessing of the respective national associations and, as the objection of UEFA had, officially at any rate been met, UEFA accepted the inevitable.
It was at this point the Euro League was formed.
The National Leagues who began Competing.
The Netherlands, Scotland, Portugal, Sweden, Belgium, Denmark and Norway.
The Proposals.
Each domestic top flight would consist of two groups of eight teams, the top and bottom group. The teams in each group would play each other twice. The top two teams in the top group would qualify for the Atlantic League. Following this departure in the domestic leagues, the two groups would merge and the remaining fourteen teams would play each other twice with points starting from zero again. The winner would win the domestic league, the bottom club would be relegated.
The two teams who left would join the other twelve from the other six nations to form the new Atlantic League. They would play each other twice with the top team winning the Atlantic League. Both the Atlantic League and the Domestic leagues would last from Febuary-May.
Domestic Cup Tournaments would remain unaffected by the new set-up.
Television and Advertising Revenue.
From the outset, the Atlantic League was one of the biggest in Europe with the potential of the likes of Ajax, Porto, Anderlecht, Celtic and IFK Gothenburg playing each other every week. As such, big revenue was pretty much a certainty. It was agreed that 80% of all revenue would be shared out between the teams competing in the Atlantic League, with 18% going to the domestic league during the group sections dependant on positions. It was agreed that current television deals in the respective nations be respected, with Atlantic League matches being shown in place of domestic league matches, but gradually this would be harmonised.
Start Date.
Season 2001-02 was already half way through, so it was agreed that the change would take place from season 2003-04 which would allow the Scandinavian nations who play football during the summer months time to adjust for the new set up.