A 2020 term sheet reveals Fifa leadership negotiated a partnership to rebrand the European Super League project and integrate it into global football operations.
Key facts
- •The October 2020 term sheet proposed a 12-year partnership between Fifa and the Super League.
- •Fifa would have held a “golden share” and preferred equity stake in the competition.
- •The plan included an annual, straight-knockout “global club competition” tied to the Super League.
- •The proposal involved reducing international football windows to two per year.
- •Participating clubs would have been required to join the World Football Club Association.
- •Fifa referred to itself as “WO1” within the internal term sheet documents.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino held negotiations regarding a potential partnership with the European Super League, including a proposal to rebrand the breakaway competition as the “Fifa Super League.” A term sheet dated October 2020 outlines a 12-year agreement that would have granted Fifa special governance rights and a “golden share” in the venture. The document suggests that Fifa’s administration was deeply involved in the project before the breakaway was publicly launched and subsequently abandoned in April 2021.
By the numbers
Proposed Governance and Competition Structure
The term sheet proposed a joint venture to manage commercial operations for the Super League and a new annual “global club competition.” This tournament would have functioned as a straight knockout event held over a three-week period. Fifa would have received a preferred equity stake, granting it influence over format changes, calendar adjustments, and the appointment of a chief executive. The plan also included a commitment to launch a women’s version of the league using the same clubs. Under the proposed agreement, the international match calendar would have been restructured, significantly reducing the number of international windows to two two-week periods per year. The document notes that member associations were largely bypassed during the formation of these plans, which would have required approval from Fifa’s annual congress and council.
Shift in Stance
Although the term sheet indicated that discussions were nearing a conclusion in late 2020, the project was later launched in April 2021 without Fifa’s direct involvement. Following widespread backlash and protests, the breakaway league was scrapped. Gianni Infantino subsequently publicly disapproved of the project, with sources suggesting that a conversation with Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin influenced his decision to distance himself from the venture.
Timeline
- 2018Infantino proposed a $25bn plan for an expanded Club World Cup and Nations League.
- October 2020A term sheet was drafted outlining a partnership between Fifa and the Super League.
- April 2021The Super League was launched without Fifa's involvement and subsequently scrapped.
- February 2025Real Madrid announced an agreement with Uefa, ending their involvement in the project.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Guardian Sport.
