Over the past few days, the footballing landscape has been completely shaken, stirred and flipped on its head, as the powers that be have introduced and appear to be forcing through new plans for a European Super League, in which 20 teams from across Europe will compete in a league format, with no relegation and a whole lot of money. The actual details of the format are still being announced, and there remains some confusion over how and when the games will be fit into the footballing schedule, with many expecting the ‘founding clubs’ to essentially abandon their domestic duties and be fully focussed on the ESL.

In the immediate aftermath of the announcement, it’s fair to say fans of every club, from Chelsea to Cheltenham aren’t too pleased with this almost ‘untouchable’ status being given to the already richest and most dominant clubs, while the lower league sides, and even the remaining Premier League clubs will be left to ‘make do’ with the scraps left in the domestic competitions. Quite frankly, this decision and announcement is horrendous for everything I, and every football fan looks for. Although I do support one of the ‘founding clubs’, losing the competitive element and actual battle of anybody beating anybody, to be replaced with big European matches daily, feels so unappealing, and actually offensive that the billionaires have decided on this decision, during a global pandemic when the footballing world is already so skewed and inflated in their favour, without consultation from fans themselves. The biggest point I cannot get on board with, is how over the past 2/3 days, despite being a football fan for my entire 23 year existence, I am now being told by billionaires what I want to watch, how I should enjoy football and what they think is appealing. Take the money rewards away from this idea, and they too would be questioning it, so don’t allow them to say otherwise. This is not for the ‘beautiful game’, this is for individual financial and status benefits only, nothing more.

If you will allow, I will try and calmly focus my thoughts and opinions in the remainder of this piece. If you have anything at all to add, question and or even challenge then please do get in touch @NextGoalWinBlog. Whatever happens over the next few days, we (the fans) must make ourselves heard, and do NOT allow those non-football fans, to change our game for financial gain.

Thoughts

There is a genuine risk of the Premier League becoming a footballing monopoly, or oligopoly for the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool and possibly Chelsea and Manchester United, and to be honest it’s been that way for some time. However, at the start of every season there is optimism, as no side starts with a points advantage, and despite the obvious financial head-start given to these sides, on the pitch it’s all up for grabs in both trophy winning and relegation stakes. This ESL completely removes that optimism for these big teams, as suddenly there is no consequence or threat, and although if your team are favourites to win the whole thing then you have the optimism, but for the likes of Arsenal, AC Milan and some of the lower-level elite sides involved, there is absolutely nothing to play for. They will not win the ESL, and they can’t be relegated. It’s the American sports model which, although I follow a few American sports such as the NFL, knowing your side is not going to make the playoffs instantly removes the interest and intrigue of a whole season and my interest drops off massively. Meanwhile, we can take a look at what will remain in the domestic leagues and competitions. The Premier League, La Liga, Serie A all become an afterthought, so while we might see the likes of Everton, Crystal Palace or even Newcastle United challenging for the league, it is essentially competing for the afterthought trophy, which relegates the entire league to Championship level. Of course winning the Championship is a great achievement, but it’s the reward of Premier League football which gives fans the excitement and optimism, and you just cannot cut that off in football. Even going more drastic, but taking away eyes from domestic leagues is catastrophic for smaller clubs, they will receive less TV money which most clubs need for survival, every club remaining in domestic tournaments suddenly drops a division in terms of funding, crowds and attention. Many of these clubs can barely manage in the current state, and thus taking this action and the domino effect will simply collapse some great legacy clubs and dent communities.

Let’s just take Leicester City for example, and obviously it’s the rarity that many fans will instantly throw out against the ESL, but let’s go back to that season and quite honestly every single football fan (apart from Spurs fans) was supporting and willing Leicester City on in the final few games, simply because it meant that the sport was still competitive, and after years of Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City, having a complete outsider win the league was a stunning moment which will be remembered and engrained in history. I acknowledge that the following season had normality resuming with the top sides, however we witnessed something incredible and a moment that really reminded everyone why they love the game. The ESL completely takes this possibility and makes it a literal impossibility. Even on a smaller scale, watching smaller underdog sides overperform or pick up shock wins is a great thing to watch as a spectacle, and again knowing that there is no real underdog or great story to tell just reduces interest and intrigue.

What the European Super League is offering, sounds in principle as a real spectacle from a footballing perspective, watching Europe’s top sides competing for a trophy, bragging rights and to lay claim as the best side in Europe. That sounds awfully familiar to the Champions League though, and the Champions League offers the ‘almost’ perfect balance. We see the big occasions but aren’t overwhelmed with the big clashes which reduces their significance, and we can and often do see big upsets, underdog journeys and memorable moments. Thinking of the great Champions League moments, Manchester United in 99, Liverpool in 05, City vs Spurs in recent years, all these clashes were so memorable and exciting because of the risk and reward. In a ‘league’ game between Liverpool and AC Milan does not have that comeback quite simply, because Liverpool would almost accept the defeat, bring their big players off and take the L and move on, there would be no dramatic night in Istanbul, and just another game. It’s not necessarily just the big names and big players which make these games so special, it’s the sporting competition which gives it the spice.

From a football perspective, it’s a terrible move. You lose all competition, drama, tension and thus, the feeling of success becomes diluted and we become numb to the great moments that football has given millions for years. Additionally, you can’t have a ‘Super’ league when the top sides could be refused entry, or decline entry. Bayern Munich and Dortmund are arguably some of Europe’s best, and so a contest without them, but including Arsenal and Spurs is outrageous. Footballing talent cannot come down to financial standings and status.

Of course I want to watch the best teams compete, but I want the rarity of these sides matching up in Europe, via a Champions League knockout tie. I don’t however want Barcelona vs Manchester United 5 times a season, it again becomes diluted, bland and lifeless. As I mentioned on Twitter, I love a slice of cake as a rare treat, and I savour every mouthful. However, even though I enjoy the slice of cake treat, I don’t want to eat 12 cakes in one sitting, as I’ll be sick and my love/excitement of the treat turns to hatred. Now swap out ‘cake’ for AC Milan vs Real Madrid, and you get the picture.

To summarise, this simply CANNOT be allowed to go ahead without our (the footballing community, the fans, the ones who pay week-in week-out to fund this sport) opinions. Do NOT allow the billionaires to capitalise on empty stadiums to force through a rubbish idea that seriously damages the entire sport. This move will protect the pockets of the big clubs, however they got themselves into this mess and quite frankly, the owners supposedly ‘needing’ this competition can afford to bail their clubs out themselves. Instead, they will lie about the need for this to protect the big clubs, however it simply it too bad for them. They wanted to pay these massive contracts, well tough shit now it’s come back to bite you. They will happily allow this inflation to continue in exchange for the thing we love about sport, the contest, the drama, the intrigue and all those magical and wonderful underdog stories. I just don’t care about Real Madrid vs Juventus level games each and every night, it becomes repetitive, and at such an elite level, it will burn-out their biggest stars, ruin the sporting contest and 99% of these huge European derbies will be played out as dull and drab draws which disappoint. Give me the occasional big European match, once both sides have earnt the right to play one-another and I am all on-board, but not this way. Not like this!