Football fans have been left fearful and asking why as fresh plans for a new European Super League have once again been posed by the same people behind the previous failed proposal.
According to an interview with A22 chief executive Bernd Reichart, the organisation created to help sponsor and onboard the previous Super League iteration, a new-look competition is being discussed and could contain 60-80 teams and a multi-divisional format (a key aspect it didn’t include last time).
Speaking to German outlet Die Welt, Reichart insists that the league would be based on sporting performance and merit alone, with no permanent members — again, a key issue with the franchising model set up and eventually abandoned back in 2021.
Nevertheless, despite supposed tweaks to the ‘competition’ format, the general consensus seems to be that A22‘s reassurances are an empty gesture and that the people behind this movement are once again looking to pull the wool over the eyes of football fans everywhere.
🗣 "A22 are a sports management company specifically set up by the people who wanted to push for the European Super League."@RobDorsettSky further explains the new European League proposals pic.twitter.com/TD3LGtS6G2
The A22 boss goes on to say that “teams would be guaranteed a minimum of 14 matches per season” and that talks with 50 possible participants have been “open, honest [and] constructive”, as well as suggesting that “clubs often find it impossible to speak out publicly against a system that uses the threat of sanctions to thwart opposition.”
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Like the chief architects tried to argue on the first attempt, Reichart insisted that “the foundations of European football are in danger of collapsing” and that “it’s time for a change.”
“It is the clubs that bear the entrepreneurial risk in football. But when important decisions are at stake, they are too often forced to sit idly by on the sidelines as the sporting and financial foundations crumble around them”. Note, very little mention of fans anywhere here.
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However, as the Football Supporters’ Association rightly pointed out, there is no need for another European competition catered towards the continent’s top clubs as one already exists: the Champions League — you know, one of the biggest and already most lucrative sporting events in the world.
Moreover, Spanish football’s top division La Liga have also been the first to openly speak out against the Super League Mk.II, immediately rejecting the idea that home teams Real Madrid and Barcelona played a key role in championing last time round.
Writing in a statement, the organisation say: “The Super League is the wolf in the story of Little Red Riding Hood. It is disguising itself as an open and meritocratic competition, but underneath there is still the same selfish, elitist and greed-driven project. Don’t let their tales fool you.”
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Now if that doesn’t tell you what proper football people think about this idea then what will?
Regardless of how they try to spin things to make it more palatable to clubs around Europe and their fans, it is nothing more than another money-grabbing attempt at spoiling the beautiful game.
Victim named and murder investigation launched after young woman is killed in Newton Heath stabbing
Emily Sergeant
The victim of a street stabbing in Newton Heath this week has been named for the first time as a murder investigation continues.
It comes after officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) responded to reports of a disturbance at around 2am yesterday (Thursday 15 October) on Dorking Avenue, in the Newton Heath area of Manchester, and when they arrived on the scene, they found a woman in her 20s with serious injuries that were ‘consistent with a stabbing’.
Despite best efforts of all emergency services involved, the young woman was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
As the murder investigation progresses, the woman has now been publicly named and a photo of her has been released for the first time.
She has been named as 26-year-old Alisha Samuels.
At this time, one man, aged 25, has been arrested on suspicion of murder, and a man and woman, aged 61 and 38, have been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, and they all remain in custody – with officers continuing their enquiries to establish the full circumstances of this incident.
Alisha’s family have asked for privacy whilst they deal with the devastating loss of their loved one, GMP has stated.
“We are continuing to urge people who may have information in relation to this incident to please come forward to support our investigation and bring justice for Alisha,” the police force said in a public appeal.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or has mobile phone, CCTV, or doorbell footage, is urged to call GMP on 0161 856 5464, or contact them via the Major Incident Public Portal here.
Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
Featured Image – GMP (Family Handout)
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Former supply teacher jailed for multiple upskirting and AI sex offences across Greater Manchester
Emily Sergeant
A former supply teacher has been jailed for multiple upskirting and AI sex offences in schools across Greater Manchester.
Abusali Rahman – a British national of Bangladeshi ethnicity from Salford – appeared in Bolton Crown Court this week for his sentencing after first being charged with, and then pleading guilty to, several offences.
The offences are including, but not limited to, 12 counts of taking an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child (images obtained by upskirting), three counts of making indecent photograph / pseudo-photograph of a child (making AI-generated images), and one count of attempting to meet girl under 16 following sexual grooming.
The offences are alleged to have taken place between December 2023 and June 2025, according to Greater Manchester Police (GMP).
Twelve girls have been identified in relation to the upskirting offences – aged between 13 and 16 at the time of the alleged offending – at seven high schools in three Greater Manchester boroughs (Bury, Bolton, and Salford).
GMP says it has remained in close contact with the schools, local authorities, and other partners throughout the investigation to ensure all appropriate support is in place for those who need it.
Additionally, the court also heard how Rahman amassed a collection of images of young girls, using AI and other methods to sexualise them.
The images numbered more than 300 in total, ranging from Category A to Category C classifications, and Rahman would post these on social media, often alongside humiliating and disgusting captions.
Rahman was sentenced to six years in prison, and will also be subject to a 20-year Sexual Harm Protection Order.
A former supply teacher has been jailed for child sex offences in schools across Greater Manchester / Credit: GMP
Detective Constable Lisa McGaffin, from GMP’s Bolton Child Protection Team, described Rahman’s crimes as ‘absolutely abhorrent’.
“My thoughts throughout this process have always been with the young girls who have been subject to such indignity,” DC McGaffin said following the sentencing this week. “Their welfare and support will always be a priority for us.
“While working as a teacher – someone who young children should trust and be safe with – Rahman repeatedly took secret photos for his own sick gratification, before posting images online which showed his total disregard for the girls’ respect and dignity.
Danny Jones -
9th February 2023 
