Bundesliga bigwigs, Bayern Munich and Dortmund including Ligue 1 juggernauts PSG are understood to be the three notable absentees in the proposed breakaway competition – Super League – formed by 12 European elite teams.
Those ‘Founding Clubs’ are led by the biggest six clubs in English football: Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham. The two biggest clubs in the world, Real Madrid and Barcelona, and a third from Spain – Atletico Madrid.
Then there’s Italy’s three giants: Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan.
However, it is the surprise exclusion of Bayern, Dortmund and PSG from the list of clubs spearheading the scheme that has raised eyebrows and the reason behind their stance may also amaze you.
PSG may appear to still be without a Uefa Champions League in the trophy cabinet, but being in pursuit of it, does not in any way alter their imposing presence in the tournament.
PSG, who are reputed for breaking the bank on the signing of players would have been thought to be among these 12 teams, but what seems to keep the French giants from being part of the plan is due to a perceived relationship with UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, who has vehemently, along with other decision makers rejected the idea.
The fact no German clubs will be involved is also interesting, such is the regard German football is held in across the continent. Bayern, who claimed the treble in 2019/20, are an especially eye-catching absentee.
Shortly after the story broke, the DFL denounced the Super League, with CEO Christian Seifert writing that a Super League would “irreparably damage national leagues”.
It’s a strong stance, but this wouldn’t have been enough to prevent Bayern and Dortmund from joining if they’d wanted to. The Premier League is also against the plans and that didn’t stop six of their clubs from signing up.
The non-participation of German clubs in the formation of a new competition – rival Champions League – boils down to the the fact that members of each club in the Bundesliga are allowed to make decisions. And this, makes it impossible for board members to do as they please.
Another reason Bayern and Dortmund are seen to be uninterested in the plan, could be linked to who are involved in the running of the club.
Former players and club legends Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the CEO of Bayern Munich, and Michael Zorc, Borussia Dortmund’s Sporting Director, appreciate the legacy they have kept with their clubs more than many of their counterparts across Europe.
The pair played in the Bundesliga and European Cup for their sides, and one assumes they would not want to devalue their own achievements by separating their clubs from the same competitions.
