Super League: Are soccer teams leaving Premier League over money?
It was announced on Sunday that twelve of Europe’s top football clubs would be launching a breakaway “Super League”, which is expected to be led by Real Madrid president Florentino Perez. “We will help football at every level and take it to its rightful place in the world,” Perez said. “Football is the only global sport in the world with more than four billion fans and our responsibility as big clubs is to respond to their desires.”
The move, which has faced much backlash already by multiple stakeholders, will see all twelve clubs resign from the European Club Association, including AC Milan, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Barcelona, Internazionale, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Tottenham Hotspur. This is certainly quite the shake-up!
Now, it is being reported that the remaining fourteen Premier League Clubs will hold a meeting for emergency purposes as early as Tuesday to decide the next course of action following the news of the Super League. So, with this surprise, just what exactly will the Super League be about, and will it create a ripple effect for the result of European football? Let’s delve into the full story.
Super League
ESPN had reported that it’s possible that up to fifteen teams of Europe’s biggest and most popular clubs could be launching this European Super League as early as the 2023-2024 season.
“By bringing together the world’s greatest clubs and players to play each other throughout the season, the Super League will open a new chapter for European football, ensuring world-class competition and facilities, and increased financial support for the wider football pyramid,” said Joel Glazer, co-owner of Manchester United and vice chairman of the Super League.
The format of Super League would feature two groups of ten playing home & away game fixtures, with the top three teams in each group able to qualify for the quarterfinals. “Our 12 founder clubs represent billions of fans across the globe and 99 European trophies,” said Juventus president Andrea Agnelli, professing how this movie would help secure the long-term future of the game while preserving the traditions of old.
Backlash?
After news of the Super League came out, FIFA immediately voiced their disapproval for the breakaway league, as it was outside of international and traditional football structures. The UEFA even released a statement of their own should such a “Super League” see its conception, saying the following:
“If this were to happen, we wish to reiterate that we, the UEFA, the English FA, RFEF, FIGC, the Premier League, La Liga, Lega Serie A, but also FIFA and all our member associations will remain united in our efforts to stop this cynical project, a project that is founded on the self-interest of a few clubs at a time when society needs solidarity more than ever.”
They continued: “We will consider all measures available to us, at all levels, both judicial and sporting in order to prevent this happening. Football is based on open competitions and sporting merit; it cannot be any other way. As previously announced by FIFA and the six Federations, the clubs concerned will be banned from playing in any other competition.”
Premier league speaks up
The Premier League had its own thoughts regarding a Super League, condemning the plans for a breakaway division of football. “The Premier League condemns any proposal that attacks the principles of open competition and sporting merit which are at the heart of the domestic and European football pyramid.”
The statement continued: “A European Super League will undermine the appeal of the whole game, and have a deeply damaging impact on the immediate and future prospects of the Premier League and its member clubs, and all those in football who rely on our funding and solidarity to prosper.”
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What are your thoughts on a potential Super League? Will this ruin European football, or save it? Comment below and let us know your thoughts.
