Chinese clubs are reported to be among the football teams to be included in the planned World Super League that would unify UEFA's Champions League and Europa League competitions.

Dalian Wanda chairman Wang Jianlin, considered as one of China's richest men, is one of the supporters in the creation of the said league. The World Super League is said to be intended to merge the Champions League and Europa League into one tournament that will include 32 to 64 clubs from all around the world, including teams from Europe, the United States, Brazil, Australia, South Africa and China.

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ESPN reported that this idea had been suggested in the past but was "met with strong opposition amid fears that domestic competitions and smaller sides could suffer as more power is handed to the sport's heavyweights".

However, the report then noted that according to European Professional Football Leagues (EFPL) board member Jacco Swart, the creation of such a league is "inevitable".

"We will see a worldwide football competition in a few years. That is a development which nobody can stop anymore," Swart said. "It will be an exclusive party for the happy few - for the biggest football brands in the world."

It was said, though, that each country's domestic competitions will still go on as the proposed global tourney will implement a "Champions League-style format".

"This new super league will be driven by TV markets, huge sponsors, branding and marketing all over the world. And not by real football factors," said Swart. "The traditional football formats will be snowed under. What it will mean exactly for the biggest football leagues in the world, the Premier League, La Liga (Spain), and the Bundesliga (Germany), I don't know yet."

"It may sound weird, but for them it is a bigger threat than for us (the other leagues in Europe). For their leagues there are billions at stake, for us millions," he added.

Meanwhile, the Mirror indicated that European football superpowers are seeing the "global marketing opportunities" to pit the superstars from each country's domestic leagues. The article cited a potential match that will feature Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo and Shanghai SIPG's Hulk, which would be a blockbuster for the worldwide football audience.

TagsChina Football, Football, World Super League, china, China Football News