The announcement of the European Super League (ESL) has rocked the Football world. Top clubs such as Manchester United, Liverpool, Barcelona and Juventus have decided to break away from UEFA to propose their own league in which the founding members cannot be relegated.
The format sees 20 teams compete in a system of two leagues of ten. The top 3 teams from each league (and 2 from a play-off) will then participate in two-legged knockout stage. The 15 teams will compete every year, with 5 teams being invited due to domestic performance.
The full statement on the plans for the European Super League can be found here: https://thesuperleague.com/press.html Credit: European Super League Company
This article will discuss the reasons why the ESL will ruin Football and why fans, like myself, are outraged with the proposition.
The Removal of Competition
By making a league where teams cannot be relegated, it results in the competition aspect becoming irrelevant. Teams involved in the ESL would no longer have to earn their place in Europe, so qualifying through domestic positions would no longer be necessary.
Football requires competition for it to be considered a sport, removing this means that the European Super League is just entertainment. The idea that any team can win or earn a place in big competitions such as the Champions League is what the foundations of Football and Sport in general are built off of.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola shared a similar opinion in his first press conference after the news: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Binwq50SmA Credit: Sky Sports Football
These owners see Football as a business. They are wrong! Football is a sport and always will be, with or without them. The Super League will create a false competition pretending to be a sport, it will become the WWE of Football. The real competition will exist with the domestic leagues and with grassroots. They will never be able to take that away no matter how hard they try.
Disregarding the Fans
As a kid and as a fan of my club, my dream was always to become a Birmingham City player. I wanted to see my team climb up the ranks and become champions of the Premier League and the champions of Europe. I wanted my club to be the best of the best.
I knew that this was a dream and the chances of that happening were slim. However, there was always still a chance. Now, these clubs in the ESL will remove the chances entirely because they want to keep their money and think they are entitled to make that decision. They have no right to take away the dreams of fans.
30 years ago, those involved with clubs like Manchester City, Chelsea, and Tottenham would have been in the exact same position as me. Dreaming of being a so called ‘Big Club’. They were lucky to have their dreams become a reality. Now the owners of these clubs who piggybacked and profited from these dreams are removing the dreams of other clubs and fans.
Reducing the Spectacle
One of the suggested benefits of the ESL is that the best teams will be playing each other more often. This is supposed to be a good thing as more big games will occur, and the ESL will provide the fans with a spectacle bigger than ever before.
This is not the case. Initially, yes, it will attract a lot of interest and seeing the bigger games will provide a spectacle never seen before. However, this will gradually diminish, and these fixtures will lose their spark. Matches between teams at the bottom of the ESL will eventually become the equivalent to matches between sides at the bottom of the Premier League.
Instead of being the top of the domestic league, the clubs would be bottom of the Super League with nothing to play for and ruining the club’s reputation. The owners will not care though because their pockets are full.
Clubs Turning Into a Franchise
The main issue I have with the ESL is the fact that certain clubs will always be guaranteed a spot, despite the results. This converts clubs into franchises and Football becomes similar to the NBA and NFL.
Franchises in American sports like the NBA and NFL work because this has been a fundamental aspect since the sports have begun. Relegation and promotion has never been a part of the competition, neither has international competitions.
This is why the competition works as every team involved in the sport has the chance of winning the competition. Technically, each team has an equal opportunity to win each game.
Converting some Football clubs into franchises that can’t be relegated whilst keeping others in a pyramid system creates unequal opportunity and therefore removing the competitive element.
The Corruption of UEFA and FIFA
When it comes to the reason why these owners have decided to take this action, the main reason is suggested to be the mismanagement and corruption of current Footballing associations.
In 2015, the FBI investigated and later prosecuted members of FIFA for corruption, fraud, and money laundering. This resulted in the removal of individuals with big positions in FIFA, including the FIFA president at the time Sepp Blatter, and UEFA president Michel Platini. Both were also banned from Football for 8 years.
This shows the corruption that has been a part of the sport for a long time. As more money has been introduced into Football, more instances like this have surfaced. These plans are not right, but UEFA and FIFA have brought this upon themselves because they have failed to preserve the sport for many years now.
Florentino Perez, Delusional Owner
Florentino Pérez is the current president of Real Madrid and would become the chairman of the ESL. Pérez conducted an interview recently defending the plans and stating his plans for the future.
In the interview, he said that the European Super League will ‘save football’. In addition, he suggested that 16-24 year olds are not interested in 90 minutes Football games.
As a 16-24 year old, this is straight up delusion. I love Football and always have! The majority of my friends also love Football but hate the idea of the ESL. Football matches is the only thing I am willing to watch consistently for more than 90 minutes.
Owners like Pérez are out of touch and have been for a long time. Decisions are being made to benefit owners and their business. As a result, they are willing to change and destroy the sport for their benefit.
Money, Money, Money
Ultimately, the prime motivator for the ESL is money. The owners don’t care about the fans, the sport, the players, or the staff. It’s all about the money.
Money has created a snowball effect in Football. More and more money has been pumped into the sport and as a result, the sporting aspects have become less important every year. Now, this has finally exploded into the position we find ourselves in today.
Decades of owners, boards and associations like the FA, Premier League, UEFA, and FIFA making money the priority has led to this moment. And as per usual, the fans are the ones that will suffer.
Take Action
The question is what can be done to prevent these plans from happening? Sadly, it’s unsure as to whether it can be stopped. But as fans, we can make our voices heard.
Spread the message by sharing posts like this one, posting your opinions on social media, signing petitions, and joining the movement in any way possible.
Also, local clubs need help more than ever at the moment. When possible, support your local clubs. Go to the games, buy the merchandise, and help in any way you can.
Personally, I am going to try to attend a game for my local non-league clubs at home and at university, as well as supporting my club Birmingham City by buying a shirt and watching the games on Sky. (Like I usually do!)
If you want to hear more like this on the ESL:
Gary Neville’s Reaction : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GP05EDm9EB8 Credit: Sky Sports Football
The Kick Off Super League Debate (Contains Strong Language) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GP05EDm9EB8 Credit: The Kick Off
Away Days- We Need To Stop The Super League : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GP05EDm9EB8 Credit: Away Days
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