European Superleague...........grotesque Concept?

[ToraToraTora]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56800351
Once again Football tries to extract yet more dosh for the big few. I haven't seen anyone in the Football world on favour yet. Pundits, fans, sports journalists all seem to agree it would be a disaster. Should the teams and players be banned from the rest of football if they go ahead?

[Ken4155]

How can this be a further step in the same direction. We know how the Premier League was born. But the difference between this proposed new league and the PL is that there is no promotion to/relegation from the ESL. All it will serve to do is to make vastly rich clubs - yours included - even richer.
I sincerely hope that the proposed threats to ban those teams from domestic and current European competitions come to fruition. Wonder how many "stars from all over Europe" will consider signing for these sides in future years?

[JJ109]

Obviously it is too early to make any comments until points have been properly researched, but........

Many players that play for these clubs only have work permits because they play for their respective countries. If UEFA/FIFA ban them from playing for their countries would the government (be prepared) to revoke their work permits.

By the way - I really don't know what I am talking about!!!



By the way

[sunny-dave]

Call me an old cynic ("You're an old cynic, Dave"), but this reeks of the same brinkmanship that was used by the putative 'breakaway' Premier League Clubs in 1990 - who also were going to be a closed competition, no promotion/relegation.

All they were really after was a much bigger share of the TV money and more seats on the governing body - which is exactly what happened when they inevitably came to a negotiated settlement with The Football League and the FA.

Watch as UEFA and FIFA do more dirty deals with the rich clubs to keep them happy, whilst feathering their own corrupt nests at the same time.

I'm glad I don't follow this excuse for a sport very much these days.

[vulcan42]

I wonder if this might be self defeating. With no promotion or relegation, where's the incentive to play well? It's just football being played for the sake of playing football. Fans like to see their club winning, look at the euphoria when their team wins the FA or European cup, this wouldn't happen with this new league. Won't it become boring to see the same few clubs playing each other each week and not making a lot of difference whether they win or lose? Perhaps this is what these clubs want, play football, make obscene amounts of money and to hell with the fans. Having played football in empty stadiums for the past year do they think the fans are no longer important?

[bluemoon1]

It hasn't been decided how it will be run, whether there will be promotions and relegations, or even how many teams and from which countries will play in it.
It's coming up for review shortly how the TV income is going to be shared out between the current clubs in each European league so this may be all bull, with the intention of the top clubs getting a bigger share.

[bluemoon1]

Crossed posts sunny dave

[sunny-dave]

Great minds ... :+)

[Canary42]

Sounds just like Capitalism to me.

[youngmafbog]

Not a football fan at all but I have heard moans from some that are regarding the fact football is pretty much carved up between these teams anyway.

Perhaps if they were removed from the domestic leagues other clubs may be able to shine and the competition might be opened up. i.e. at the start of the season you have no clue who will win out of all of them. In addition maybe the remaining clubs may have to start paying attention to the fans, making season tickets affordable and not paying outlandish amounts for players that have no affinity to the UK let alone the Town they are supposed to be representing.

[youngmafbog]

You would prefer Communism Canary?

[Wilbo]

It would appear Man United and liverpool are the main movers after failing to take control of English football during the lockdown. They are run as a business first and as a football club second and their poor fans just seen as revenue generating fodder not as cherished supporters of their clubs. Once this idea got hold the other powerful English clubs are in a dilemma ..... potentially get left behind or make a stand .......Ihear Man City did not want to join and were the last to sign up but feared missing out.
At least whilst PSG and Bayern hold out there is a chance the thing may not occur and one just hopes that those in doubt will now back out to make it less likely.

[ichkeria]

"The numb nuts at home do get a decision, pay to watch on TV or get off their butts and go and watch a game. "

It is not as simple as that, as well you must know.
I have as little time for that attitude as I do for the lazy armchair fans tyou mian about.

"However certain clubs had a lot more money coming in in those days and there was no moaning then. It was those clubs that revelled in the thought of millions more coming in from TV and advertising and so the premier league was born, and this is just a further step in the same direction. "

It is a complete change of direction, to a closed competition, in the style of the US franchises. Many of the changes taken in the past have been to placate the richest clubs (one of whom I'm a supporter of as it happens). This just shows that feeding the beast only increases its appetite.

[ichkeria]

I suspect that there is some truth in what Sunny Dave says: we had a similar annoucement, or threat of one, a few months ago, which was seen largely as a negotiating ploy.
This feels more like a gun pointed at everyone else's head. And everyone else is preparing to point one back. It's hard to see how any of this is good for anyone.

[shoota]

(It's jolly nice to read a thread where a discussion is taking place without cavilling and bitching taking over. I don't like football and this development is of no consequence to me whatsoever but I enjoyed your thread, Gentlemen.)

[ToraToraTora]

I Blame Jimmy Hill!

[ToraToraTora]

canary: "Sounds just like Capitalism to me. " - actually it's exactly like socialism, no incentive to do better generally reduces the performance of everyone till in the end there is no point trying because there is no reward. Initially they'll throw dosh at it but when the millions of sky subscribers drift away because there is nothing to win or lose, the salaries will suffer the clubs will re apply to join the rest of football. Yes canary it's a perfect allegory to socialism.

[THECORBYLOON]

As sanctions would be applied to the players, would transfers be allowed only between the teams already in the new league?

I wonder if the players in the teams are happy with the proposals and the effects on their future careers?

[Ken4155]

Wilbo; "It would appear Man Utd and Liverpool are the main movers......" and "I hear Man City did not want to join..."
Where would it appear and where did you hear that?

[dannyk13]

Uefa have banned them from their competitions.

[dannyk13]

https://www.sportbible.com/football/foul-play-super-league-clubs-and-players-will-be-banned-from-euros-and-world-cup-20210418