The newly formed European Super League has published a letter of intent with 12 of the biggest European Football Clubs and the founding members, breaking away from the football pyramid to create their own midweek games. Its aim will be to replace the historically attractive Champions League.
The Super League will involve the following teams: AC Milan (Italy), Arsenal (England), Atletico Madrid (Spain), Barcelona (Spain), Chelsea (England), Inter Milan (Italy), Juventus (Italy), Liverpool (England), Manchester City (England), Manchester United (England), Real Madrid (Spain) and Tottenham Hotspur (England). These 12 teams have named themselves the ‘founding members’ of this competition.
This all-exclusive Super League will be backed by Wall Street giant – JP Morgan. They are splashing a whopping £4.3 billion into this project which is expected to start “as soon as practicable”. It will mean that each club will rack up to £200-300 million extra, just for joining with further rewards down the line. This compares starkly to the £40-80 million they would receive from the Champions League.
Whilst shares of clubs, like Juventus and Manchester United saw an expected increase on the stock exchange market, at the grassroot level it has been damming. Supporters have come out unanimously against this proposal, with pundits and former professionals being furiously disgusted with their former clubs – namely, Gary Neville who has been the leading voice against the formation and laying power to the ‘Big 6’ of the Premier League.
Notably, some big names have refused to join the European Super League, such as Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Porto, PSG and Sevilla. These teams have not joined for varied reasons such as the standard of “sporting competition” and “against the principles and rules”.
In response, a picture of a banner has been circulating around social media with the following words – ‘created by the poor, stolen by the rich’.
When one takes a step back and observes all that football has been since its inception, it is the cheapest, most affordable and inclusive sport. Now, it is taking that power away to a few billionaire owners who want to see an increase in their revenue and profits.
It is true that in today’s fast evolving world, football clubs have become less about fans and more about investment. Owners such as the Glazers (Manchester United), Roman Abramovich (Chelsea) and John Henry (Liverpool) have a business to run and to become the best you need a strong business model and healthy finances. Inadvertently, this has taken a huge dent, albeit with the pandemic, but also the increasing price tags of footballers, wages, agent fees and other expenses are making it more difficult for clubs to be a sustainable. Take for example; Barcelona, who are struggling financially.
The huge TV and broadcasting selling rights this would develop and extra bonuses for players would be mouth-watering. In addition is the real prospect of playing quality teams each week rather than a bottom tiered team. Hence, this idea of European Super League taking shape now seems a bit naïve and reckless in the current climate but the idea has been boiling well before the pandemic, it is claimed since 1998.
Repercussion to the game
Whilst those involved in the European Super League may argue the necessity to form a breakaway, there are huge repercussion to the beautiful game overall.
The aforementioned football pyramid is something important within the footballing system. It connects the top football teams with those ambitious grassroot football teams trying to achieve even a percentage of greatness. There have been some great stories such as AFC Wimbledon rejuvenating itself from non-League football to becoming a professional side (League 1 – third tier) within 13 seasons and the infamous 2016 Premier League win for Leicester City. The Super League will take away those underdog stories and moments away.
The Premier League is one of the most watched and competitively toughest leagues in the world for its diverse quality, pace and attracting the brightest talents. However, if the Big 6 breakaway, it will lead to reduced revenue for the league, less TV time and sponsorship/deals. It is a unique league in the sense that every week and every season, there are new winners and losers, compared to other league which may have same winners and losers each season.
The biggest factor in play is the fans. Football is nothing without the fans and football is played for the fans. In this regard, there has been no consideration for the fans, even in the midst of the pandemic. Fans in Europe look towards one thing only and that is to win the holy grail – the Champions League – to be part of the history and culture. But this will vanish when they compete in a closed-off league. Each of the Big 6 Clubs’ supporters trust have all come out and condemned their club’s involvement.
Empty threats?
FIFA and UEFA, both governing bodies have opposed the league in the strongest possible manner. They have come out guns blazing by suggesting that players could be banned from playing for their international teams, clubs would be excluded from their domestic league and heavy sanctions would be placed on the clubs, which would all lead to a legal litigation in the courts. But Real Madrid President and also the European Super League President, Florentino Perez, is not worried about the possible expulsion.
It has further been suggested that the upcoming Champions League semi-final games which involve three of the new Super League competitors, may be kicked out – one of the harshest sanctions with immediate effect.
This story has reached the eyes and ears of the UK government, Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sports, Oliver Dowden, has pledged that the government will do ‘everything it takes’ to stop this breakaway and that even if the football governing bodies are not able to, then they will try to protect English Football.
The intervention by the government indicates the very fact that grassroot football would be in danger of losing out. As the money filters down the pyramid to help communities and local clubs, their breakaway would lead to a complete isolation to those at the bottom.
The reality of the European Super League taking place is a strong possibility. It is going to be a battle which will be embedded into the minds of fans for the wrong reasons. But within the 24-48 hours since the story exploded, the united front of the football community built against the venture is what is binding everyone together.
There is hope it can be stopped. Football is nothing without fans. This scary endeavour has once again highlighted that the powerful few continue to get wealthier and take no regard to the people at the heart of this beautiful game – the history, culture and fans.
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