CHAPTER 434: EUROPEAN SUPER LEAGUE, G14

With the rapid advancement of television broadcast technology, football matches began reaching audiences on a global scale, creating a surge in broadcasting revenues.

At the same time, the market value of superstar players was rising dramatically, pushing transfer fees and wages to unprecedented levels. As a result, football clubs faced significantly higher operating costs and increasing financial risks.

To safeguard their interests, maximize commercial opportunities, and gain a stronger collective voice in negotiations with governing bodies such as UEFA and FIFA, a coalition of elite European clubs established what became known as the G-14 organization. They were stirring, setting the stage for a battle against UEFA over the formation of the European Super League.

Real Madrid (Spain)

FC Barcelona (Spain)

Manchester United (England)

Liverpool (England)

AC Milan (Italy)

Juventus (Italy)

Internazionale (Italy)

Bayern Munich (Germany)

Borussia Dortmund (Germany)

Olympique de Marseille (France) - Manchester City (England)

Paris Saint-Germain (France)

Ajax (Netherlands)

PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands)

FC Porto (Portugal)

This group not only sought to secure a larger share of broadcasting and sponsorship revenues but also aimed to influence decision-making on issues like player release for international duty, competition scheduling, and the overall balance of power in world football.

Martin Edwards of Manchester United raised the long-debated idea of a "European Super League" during the Premier League owners’ roundtable at the G-14 meeting.

Although this new organization had not yet been formally established, the discussions made clear that it was essential to have a shared vision and unified stance from the beginning. For the leading clubs, solidarity was the only way to strengthen their bargaining position.

At its core, the proposal was aimed squarely at challenging UEFA’s authority. UEFA, after all, functioned primarily as an organizer: its crown jewel was the Champions League, a tournament built on the performances and star power of Europe’s elite clubs. Yet, despite being the main attraction, those very clubs felt they lacked an appropriate share of the financial rewards and decision-making influence.

Still, they convened secret meetings in Brussels, but the organization wasn’t truly mysterious—nor did they intend it to be. After reaching an internal consensus, they needed to communicate their decisions and plans to UEFA.

Either UEFA would give in, or they would break away entirely and create their own European Super League, bypassing the Champions League to determine who would reap the benefits and who would suffer the losses. So, by coming together under the banner of G-14, the top European clubs effectively sought to exert collective pressure on UEFA.

Inside a business conference room of Hotel Amigo, Steigenberger Wiltcher’s, Brussels, Belgium, two long tables stretched across the carpeted floor, their polished surfaces reflecting the soft glow of chandelier lights. High-backed leather chairs lined either side, each marked with a large white letter.

The first seat on the far left bore the label "A." To its right were "B," "I," "J," and so on, forming an unusual, almost cryptic arrangement. At the very center, two chairs side by side both carried the letter "M."

The doors opened with a low creak. Men in tailored suits began filing in, their expressions sharp, their footsteps brisk against the parquet. Each paused briefly, scanning the letters on the chairs before taking their assigned places with a sense of practiced confidence.

At once the identities behind the letters revealed themselves: Barcelona’s representative sank into the chair marked B, while Ajax’s man adjusted his tie and settled into A.

Familiar names filled the air like whispers of power: Galliani, Moratti, Moggi, Sanz. Yet when the counting was done, only thirteen men occupied their seats. One chair remained conspicuously empty.

It was then that Franz Beckenbauer of Bayern Munich frowned, his sharp gaze fixed on the label in front of the vacant spot. It read: "M."

But that could not be right. Beckenbauer leaned back slowly, his lips tightening.

’It should have been "O."’

Olympique de Marseille.

A silence lingered, thick and expectant. Then—footsteps. Firm, deliberate, echoing from the corridor outside. The doors swung inward once more.

A young man entered, tall and striking, his jet-black slicked hair catching the chandelier’s light. His hands rested casually in his pockets as though he owned the room. Without hesitation, he shut the door behind him with a confident click, the sound drawing every pair of eyes.

He strode forward, each step measured yet unhurried, until he reached the place where Martin Edwards sat. Pulling out the empty chair beside him—one of the twin M seats—he lowered himself into it with an ease that bordered on defiance.

Beckenbauer froze, his eyes widening as if confronted by a ghost. "Richard Maddox! What on earth are you doing here?"

Of course, Richard had already anticipated such a reaction—he’d been warned that some inside the room would not welcome him.

"What else?" he said, voice steady. "I’m here to represent the final member of the G-14."

Every man present knew the shadow hanging over that vacant chair.

L’Affaire VA–OM.

Everyone already knew about L’Affaire VA–OM, the scandal in which Olympique de Marseille paid players from Valenciennes to lose a match so their own squad would remain fit for the Champions League final. On top of that, the club’s president, Bernard Tapie, was jailed for bribery involving players. Even though the case did not strip Marseille of their 1993 European Champions title, a stain is still a stain.

Beckenbauer leaned forward, his voice sharp with contempt. "Manchester City doesn’t belong in a place like this!"

Richard only smiled faintly, choosing silence over protest. The tension in the room tightened, eyes darting between the two men.

And then, unexpectedly, it was Martin Edwards of Manchester United who broke the silence. His expression remained calm, almost calculating.

"Manchester City are the champions of England, and they’ve lifted the Champions League as well. Compared to Marseille’s reputation now, their influence in European football is undeniable."

A heavy pause followed. Richard and Edwards exchanged a brief, knowing glance, while Beckenbauer, for once, was left speechless.

Why was Edwards defending him?

After all, United and City were rivals from the same city. It didn’t make sense for such fierce rivals to help each other.

Sighing inwardly, Martin Edwards knew exactly how Beckenbauer was feeling, but he couldn’t help it. He needed Richard’s help with something far more important, and right now, the only move was to defend him.

"No, no, no. Manchester City isn’t at our level yet," Beckenbauer insisted, his voice cutting through the room like a blade.

The other representatives shifted in their seats, sensing the growing tension. Lorenzo Sanz of Real Madrid leaned back with his usual smirk, as if watching a theater performance. To be honest, City’s victory over Madrid in the Champions League final still left a bitter taste he could not accept.

Meanwhile, Moratti’s brow furrowed as he weighed the politics of choosing a side, while Moggi, silent but calculating, carefully observed the unfolding drama. Finally, it was Galliani who broke the deadlock.

Galliani sighed. "Well, let’s put it to a vote."

After the representatives from Juventus, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Manchester United, Liverpool, and FC Barcelona raised their hands in agreement, others—such as Paris Saint-Germain, Ajax Amsterdam, and FC Porto—soon followed suit.

There was an old saying whispered in football circles: you can hate Manchester City as a football club, but you definitely don’t want to make an enemy of their owner, who has billions in his bank account.

Not everyone was on board, of course. Clubs like Real Madrid and Bayern Munich notably disagreed, while PSV Eindhoven and Borussia Dortmund also withheld their support.

In reality, the organization would go on to make blunders that ultimately forced UEFA to reform. The Champions League schedule grew bloated—more matches meant greater broadcasting revenue and bigger bonuses, but it also trapped the elite clubs in a quagmire. No team could realistically balance the demands of multiple competitions without suffering. Inevitably, the toll of these poorly managed campaigns led to outcomes that were nothing short of disastrous.

With this, Richard turned to Beckenbauer, who could only concede helplessly to Manchester City’s place as a replacement for Olympique de Marseille at the meeting.

The result was clear: 10 votes to 4.

Richard scanned the room, taking in the expressions of the representatives from Europe’s powerhouse clubs. The "European Super League" was still just an idea, but one that could easily incite panic within UEFA.

He remained mostly silent during his first G14 meeting, fully aware of his curent position—as an inconspicuous supporting character. He kept his head down and listened quietly, aware that speaking too much would only irritate the others and risk getting himself sidelined.

Manchester City’s inclusion in this group was already a windfall; there was no need to push his luck. After all, the G14 was more than just a gathering—it also served as a tangible measure of a club’s standing in Europe. Their group was stirring, setting the stage for a battle against UEFA over the formation of the European Super League.

The other reason Richard chose to participate was simple—curiosity. Of course, he already knew the trajectory of what would happen after this.

Upon hearing the news of Europe’s top clubs plotting a rebellion, UEFA immediately reached out to the owners of those clubs. Yet, since they had already formed alliances and agreed on a common stance, UEFA found itself with no real leverage. In response, they began drafting revisions to the Champions League rules for the following season. It was impossible to implement changes for the 1998/99 campaign due to time constraints.

In the end, there was no real need to join the fray, because the league itself would never actually be formed.