Breakaway European "Super League" for football

[Mileendmikey]

Breaking on BBC News, that a dozen clubs - English, Spanish and Italian have signed up...

The last step on the "money is everything" road.

[I like neeps]

The Premier League when owners rinse the natural wealth of countries to launder their reputation by signing Jose Bosingwa and João Cancelo

"Yesssssss yessss best league in the world! This is great"

The premier League when those owners realise their reputations and commercial interests can be better realised in a different league.

"Wait what?! This isn't cricket."

The premier League, sky and the rest of them deserve this. F*ck em.

[Hal Jordan]

Most of us are probably old enough to remember when Everton was part of the Big Conglomerate.

And Spurs. Contenders for the most deluded club of all time.

[Hugo]

Football has definitely been one of the casualties of globalism.

Thirty or so years ago the six English clubs who signed up (Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester City) were all owned by English/British people and some of those clubs had been in multiple generations of ownership by the same family. The players were mostly British and the fans were match goers and if not locals certainly they were committed supporters who had to travel to see their team play. A decent chunk of the players came from the youth ranks of the club and the whole system (from the top of the pyramid to the bottom) was integrated into the grass roots.

Now, those breakaway clubs are owned by American billionaires or oligarchs (with the exception of Spurs who are owned by Joe Lewis, a tax exile) who don't have any real interest or investment in the sport aside from turning a profit or having a vanity project/plaything. The players are from all over the map and the whole circus is driven by TV contracts because the scheduling of the televised fixtures is for the convenience of the worldwide audience, not the match going supporters.

I don't think that this will get the support from the fanbases that it needs to come to fruition now but I think the gloablists will keep pushing this super league agenda until they get their way eventually, a generation or two down the line.

[Hugo]

Apparently it has been orchestrated by the American owners. Not sure whether they mean the entire thing or just the English clubs participation. It makes sense given that what is proposed is an American style ring fenced league.

[Kiwias]

Gary Neville is not a fan.

[stemoc]

won't someone think of the poor multi-millionaires??? :(

[Hugo]

Gary Neville is not a fan.

He nails it. I was very impressed with Rio Ferdinand's opinion on it too, he articulated his opposition very well.

From a sporting point of view it would probably be a glamorous novelty to begin with but end up being dull as ditchwater. With no promotion or relegation it will be the same teams playing each other year in year out and many of the fixtures will have nothing riding on them because the teams at the foot of the table will have nothing to play for. It would probably end up being dominated by one or two teams and the rest of the clubs would end up making up the numbers.

In contrast I think the English league would be very open and interesting. If the breakaway six left the Premier league today Leicester City would obviously be the best team left but a plethora of other clubs would fancy their chances of putting together a side good enough to win the league in due course - the likes of West Ham, Everton, Villa and Newcastle. If there is one thing that England has, it is incredible depth of football clubs.

[Slick]

Agree with a lot of what Hugo says.

Just read Danny Murphys comments that are similar to most of the ex footballers who have said anything.

He accuses the owners of being naive as the clubs are all about tradition and players grown up dreaming of playing for their club and competing in Europe so won’t want to be part of this - that sounds wildly naive to me. Most of those clubs will have 2 or 3 English guys in their match day teams of which 1 might be a local lad, the rest won’t give a shit about the history and will just want to play big games for big money. Supporters have watched these teams change and haven’t seemed to care as long as they are winning.

How long before rugby has a similar proposal?

[Hugo]

He accuses the owners of being naive as the clubs are all about tradition and players grown up dreaming of playing for their club and competing in Europe so won’t want to be part of this - that sounds wildly naive to me. Most of those clubs will have 2 or 3 English guys in their match day teams of which 1 might be a local lad, the rest won’t give a shit about the history and will just want to play big games for big money.

I agree with you 100% on that. It's not like the average Man City or Liverpool player is massively invested in the history, tradition or culture of the English game when all is said and done. The same can be said of the types of "supporters" these clubs have been actively courting for the past 30 years - people with no real attachment to the club other than they were the most successful side at the time they began watching, more consumers than match going supporters.

As you say the ex pros are all massively up in arms about it, I'm just not sure the current generation of footballers will be massively swayed by arguments that hinge on sentiment.

[Slick]

The vast, vast majority of their supporters don’t live in the U.K. and have no real intention of ever going to a match as well

[I like neeps]

Agree with a lot of what Hugo says.

Just read Danny Murphys comments that are similar to most of the ex footballers who have said anything.

He accuses the owners of being naive as the clubs are all about tradition and players grown up dreaming of playing for their club and competing in Europe so won’t want to be part of this - that sounds wildly naive to me. Most of those clubs will have 2 or 3 English guys in their match day teams of which 1 might be a local lad, the rest won’t give a shit about the history and will just want to play big games for big money. Supporters have watched these teams change and haven’t seemed to care as long as they are winning.

How long before rugby has a similar proposal?

Rugby will take a long time as it has nowhere near the global scale.

However as PE funds start to buy up tournaments and unions we'll start to see global club world cups and global competitions etc.

It seems a big reason for this is clubs such as Barcelona are actually skint and need this to service their debts.

[Paddington Bear]

Yeah I think it is possible to wildly overprice loyalty and tradition in football. Providing they produce quality football, which they will, people will watch and the broadcasters will buy it.
Banning the players from international tournaments is IMHO an empty threat and not convinced many would care anyway, given the potential millions on offer here.

Essentially, if the big clubs hold their nerve there's precious little anyone can do about it and in the end the likes of PSG, potentially Bayern as well will get bounced into it.

A bit shit but the neck on people who make a living from pro football complaining about greed is quite something.

[Insane_Homer]

Didn't this happen with cricket in the 1970s with Kerry Packer's break away?

[Mileendmikey]

As a West Ham fan of almost 50 years, I would be delighted to see them all fuck right off and chase the money. It would make the premier league much more of an even playing field. But seriously Tottenham a top European club!

[sturginho]

The Premier League set the precedent when the broke away from the Football League, they can't really whine about "what's best for English football" now

[Slick]

The Premier League set the precedent when the broke away from the Football League, they can't really whine about "what's best for English football" now

And FIFA complaining about greed is quite something

[Paddington Bear]

The Premier League set the precedent when the broke away from the Football League, they can't really whine about "what's best for English football" now

Yeah I'm finding the whole 'battle for football's soul' stuff very tedious. If you want to actually see that, find a non-league terrace to stand on

[ScarfaceClaw]

Mourinho gone?

[Jock42]

As a West Ham fan of almost 50 years, I would be delighted to see them all fuck right off and chase the money. It would make the premier league much more of an even playing field. But seriously Tottenham a top European club!

If Celtic and Rangers fucked off I'd possibly be more interested in Scottish football. You never know, Saints could have been on for the treble.

[SaintK]

Mourinho gone?

Whhat a surprise. Third season syndrome strikes again

[Lobby]

As a West Ham fan of almost 50 years, I would be delighted to see them all fuck right off and chase the money. It would make the premier league much more of an even playing field. But seriously Tottenham a top European club!

[fishfoodie]

The Premier League set the precedent when the broke away from the Football League, they can't really whine about "what's best for English football" now

Yeah I'm finding the whole 'battle for football's soul' stuff very tedious. If you want to actually see that, find a non-league terrace to stand on

It is rather hilarious; not so much a rose tinted glasses view; as a ketamine doped view.

It's got to be a couple of decades since, Harry Rednapp was bitching about players sending their milk men to him, to settle their bills.

[Hal Jordan]

The Premier League set the precedent when the broke away from the Football League, they can't really whine about "what's best for English football" now

Whilst the creation of the Premier League was greed driven, it still had a level of meritocracy, in that any one of the 92 league clubs could find their way into it, and win it (OK, if financially doped by some of the most fit and proper persons ever to walk the earth). I also think that 49 of the current 92 league clubs have actually had at least one season in it.

The Super League (note, not European Super League which hints at expansion) is a closed shop, and therein lies the big difference.

Mourinho getting the boot was probably filed under "a reason to dump him for on pitch performances" but fair play to the grumpy bustard.

[Niegs]

This is a bit of an aside, but if you're sick of this kind of football, give Bunch of Amateurs a look on youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaglOk ... mD437QuFFA

[Plim]

It's all been said on here, but I endorse the comment about how laughable 'the soul of football' notion is.

Professional football in the UK - and no doubt everywhere - has been a loathsome circus for years. I wish nothing but the worst for all of the Prem League, FA, UEFA and this Super League.

[ScarfaceClaw]

The Premier League set the precedent when the broke away from the Football League, they can't really whine about "what's best for English football" now

Whilst the creation of the Premier League was greed driven, it still had a level of meritocracy, in that any one of the 92 league clubs could find their way into it, and win it (OK, if financially doped by some of the most fit and proper persons ever to walk the earth). I also think that 49 of the current 92 league clubs have actually had at least one season in it.

The Super League (note, not European Super League which hints at expansion) is a closed shop, and therein lies the big difference.

Mourinho getting the boot was probably filed under "a reason to dump him for on pitch performances" but fair play to the grumpy bustard.

Mourinho knew exactly what he was doing and it wasn’t for his footballing principles. He’s been on the run in for the sack and has seen this as nothing more than an opportunity for some PR and to force the issue. If he’s going to get sacked it’s going to be to paint him in the best possible light.

It’s as cynical a move as anything you’ve seen in this ESL farce.

[I like neeps]

Mourinho was sacked because he's a chequebook coach and spurs can't compete financially. The account who tweeted he refused to train over this is a wind up account.

[ASMO]

The Premier League set the precedent when the broke away from the Football League, they can't really whine about "what's best for English football" now

Whilst the creation of the Premier League was greed driven, it still had a level of meritocracy, in that any one of the 92 league clubs could find their way into it, and win it (OK, if financially doped by some of the most fit and proper persons ever to walk the earth). I also think that 49 of the current 92 league clubs have actually had at least one season in it.

The Super League (note, not European Super League which hints at expansion) is a closed shop, and therein lies the big difference.

Mourinho getting the boot was probably filed under "a reason to dump him for on pitch performances" but fair play to the grumpy bustard.

Mourinho knew exactly what he was doing and it wasn’t for his footballing principles. He’s been on the run in for the sack and has seen this as nothing more than an opportunity for some PR and to force the issue. If he’s going to get sacked it’s going to be to paint him in the best possible light.

It’s as cynical a move as anything you’ve seen in this ESL farce.

16 million quid in his back pocket for getting sacked, not bad work if you can get it

[fishfoodie]

It shows how disconnected from reality, the owners of the clubs are, that they seem to be surprised by the vitriol this is getting. If they were prepared for it, they would have had people ready to go out & wax lyrical about the benefits of the new league, in every news hour; instead it's practically radio silence from them.

And if it's this bad in England; I can't wait to see the reaction in Spain & Italy !

Real & Barca wouldn't exist if they weren't propped up by the local Government, & now their giving the taxpayer who've kept them going the middle finger.

[Paddington Bear]

They’ll have priced in the vitriol.
In the end money talks. If you see on tv on a Wednesday night City v Barca or Villa v Everton you watch the former. JP Morgan are printing money

[Hugo]

They’ll have priced in the vitriol.
In the end money talks. If you see on tv on a Wednesday night City v Barca or Villa v Everton you watch the former. JP Morgan are printing money

Depends who you are asking. The armchair fans from around the world will obviously plump for the City v Barca match but purists/traditionalists and match goers would probably opt for the latter.

[Kawazaki]

All the biggest clubs are already in, once they get a few of the big German clubs and maybe Ajax, PSG, Lyon etc signed up then UEFA, the FA and anyone else can do bugger all. They'll just start their own governing bodies and start playing their own internationals if they want to.

[Slick]

The Premier League set the precedent when the broke away from the Football League, they can't really whine about "what's best for English football" now

Whilst the creation of the Premier League was greed driven, it still had a level of meritocracy, in that any one of the 92 league clubs could find their way into it, and win it (OK, if financially doped by some of the most fit and proper persons ever to walk the earth). I also think that 49 of the current 92 league clubs have actually had at least one season in it.

The Super League (note, not European Super League which hints at expansion) is a closed shop, and therein lies the big difference.

Mourinho getting the boot was probably filed under "a reason to dump him for on pitch performances" but fair play to the grumpy bustard.

Mourinho knew exactly what he was doing and it wasn’t for his footballing principles. He’s been on the run in for the sack and has seen this as nothing more than an opportunity for some PR and to force the issue. If he’s going to get sacked it’s going to be to paint him in the best possible light.

It’s as cynical a move as anything you’ve seen in this ESL farce.

I don’t understand what’s being said here re Mourinho?

[Ovals]

All the biggest clubs are already in, once they get a few of the big German clubs and maybe Ajax, PSG, Lyon etc signed up then UEFA, the FA and anyone else can do bugger all. They'll just start their own governing bodies and start playing their own internationals if they want to.

The big clubs just consider Internationals an annoyance, so I doubt it'd bother them much - and most supporters prefer their own clubs to the national side.

[Paddington Bear]

They’ll have priced in the vitriol.
In the end money talks. If you see on tv on a Wednesday night City v Barca or Villa v Everton you watch the former. JP Morgan are printing money

Depends who you are asking. The armchair fans from around the world will obviously plump for the City v Barca match but purists/traditionalists and match goers would probably opt for the latter.

Traditionalists are few on the ground. Look at the way the fans of Prem teams have treated the FA Cup for the last 20 years

[laurent]

All the biggest clubs are already in, once they get a few of the big German clubs and maybe Ajax, PSG, Lyon etc signed up then UEFA, the FA and anyone else can do bugger all. They'll just start their own governing bodies and start playing their own internationals if they want to.

Germans are not in and the French Either.

[Hal Jordan]

The drivers behind this are the American owners and they don't give a fuck about tradition or the crowds. Look at all the NFL franchises that have upped sticks for better money and the way some of them have done it (the Colts leaving Baltimore in the dead of night).

Stan Kroneke, who is big in Arsenal, owns a number of teams across different US sports. Between them they have managed two titles in all his time of ownership, but he doesn't care because it's easier for him to make money owning middling teams in a closed shop than pouring money in to chase titles, and he knows the fans will keep coming and paying, because sports fans are fucking idiots when it comes to their teams, and I freely include myself in that. Always next year!

[Slick]

UEFA talking about kicking Chelsea, City and Madrid out of the CL semis now.

That should escalate things

[I like neeps]

The drivers behind this are the American owners and they don't give a fuck about tradition or the crowds. Look at all the NFL franchises that have upped sticks for better money and the way some of them have done it (the Colts leaving Baltimore in the dead of night).

Stan Kroneke, who is big in Arsenal, owns a number of teams across different US sports. Between them they have managed two titles in all his time of ownership, but he doesn't care because it's easier for him to make money owning middling teams in a closed shop than pouring money in to chase titles, and he knows the fans will keep coming and paying, because sports fans are fucking idiots when it comes to their teams, and I freely include myself in that. Always next year!

But Kroenke does spend to the cap. It's not as if he's penny pinching. The US sports leagues are really exciting because of the salary cap. European football is so predictable because of the vast disparity in resources - not the same in the US apart from the MLB which suggests because of the salary caps.

If football wants to become competitive they should have salary caps.