A report on the formation of UEFA's new European Super League suggest that clubs such as Manchester United and Liverpool will be amongst the elite, each set to receive £20 million. UEFA's Deputy Secretary General Markus Studer this month sought to reassure MEPs from the Sports Inter-Group that Champion League matches would continue to be available free to the television viewer. Mr Studer rejected the idea of a new independent Super League run by pay-tv stations such as Sky and Mr Berlesconi's channel.
UEFA's aim for next year's competition is to generate £275 million with 45 per cent going to clubs from countries with the largest television coverage, i.e., Germany, Italy, England, France and Spain, 25 per cent to the rest, and with 30 per cent to be distributed in prize money. Mr Studer reaffirmed UEFA's opposition to suggestions of a guaranteed place for rich clubs in European competitions; instead he emphasised that the aim was to see places in the competition for clubs from all countries in Europe. There are 51 national members of UEFA. Mr Studer underlined the need for solidarity between all members in order to develop the game in countries such as Albania and Macedonia, which efforts would have to be financed entirely from profits generated by the Champions League. Furthermore, this income enabled the not so glamorous tournaments, such as under-16, under-18 and women's competitions to be financed.
Mr Studer also put on record UEFA's opposition to media companies such as the ENIC group owning more than one club. As he put it "there could be doubts about the integrity of a match played between Euro clubs with a common owner". Last year, UEFA adopted a rule which prevents two clubs with the same owner from playing in the same UEFA competition. ENIC, which owns three European clubs AEK Athens, Vincenza Calcio and Slavia Prague, have contested this viewpoint.