Football European super league.

[Hacker Khan]

Once those running the game and clubs start desperately chasing the dollar and the major revenue comes from sponsors rather than the fans who you could argue make the club, then this is an inevitable consequence. And football is in no way not unique in this, you could argue golf is similar. The gap between the professional level and the grass roots in most sports is just getting wider and wider, with the health and wealth of those involved in the sport at the elite level massively over riding any other consideration.

Personally I gave up on football a long time ago now. Haven't deliberately sat down to watch an England match in a few years now (mostly take the opportunity to play golf on a mostly empty course when they are in major championships) and have not seen a premier league match from start to finish for years, even though I have Sky Sports. I must admit Leicester has partially restored a little bit of faith in the game and the fact it should be a sport and not a procession dominated by the richest teams that just get richer and richer. But I suspect that is a temporary blip and the usual suspects will just spend and spend to get back to wining everything again soon.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I agree with you Homer about sanctions from international football. I'm not sure how feasible it would be though? At the end of the day it'll be the owners who decide wether a club would breakaway and go to a European league not the players. Would it be fair to ban them? I think it's something that could be done over a period of time and I'm not sure the football associations would be too pleased about having their international players gone overnight. I'm sure a lot of players enjoy representing their countries but would the lure of mega bucks be to much to resist for some?

They wouldn't ban players from playing international.

 

[Grogger]

They wouldn't ban players from playing international.

I'm not saying they would but I'd agree with it if they did

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I'm not saying they would but I'd agree with it if they did

I wouldn't tbh because the FA's who control the national teams don't run the leagues anymore.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

They wouldn't ban players from playing international.

Prove it. I disagree and think we'll end up with Fifa and Uefa invoking international bans on players in any form of breakaway league that falls out of its auspices in order to protect their own massive global brand in its own rights. A case of "it's my ball" and so will show any breakaway league that it comes at a price.

I understand to a degree that players cannot dictate what a club does as an employer but in this day and age with the fluidity of transfers, I can see how they would make their preference to play internationals a priority known and will do everything they can to influence a move to a club that can provide that. It is after all arguably the only sanction the governing bodies would have left to make any form of statement against the league. Frankly at this stage I don't think the proposal has legs and won't happen imminently and UEFA will come up with a fudged response and rework the CL format to try and please everyone

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Prove it. I disagree and think we'll end up with Fifa and Uefa invoking international bans on players in any form of breakaway league that falls out of its auspices in order to protect their own massive global brand in its own rights. A case of "it's my ball" and so will show any breakaway league that it comes at a price.

I understand to a degree that players cannot dictate what a club does as an employer but in this day and age with the fluidity of transfers, I can see how they would make their preference to play internationals a priority known and will do everything they can to influence a move to a club that can provide that. It is after all arguably the only sanction the governing bodies would have left to make any form of statement against the league. Frankly at this stage I don't think the proposal has legs and won't happen imminently and UEFA will come up with a fudged response and rework the CL format to try and please everyone

Well as this is simply a debate between clueless golfers guessing what may or may not happen none of us have proof, but why on earth would FIFA and UEFA go against this league when financially they would benefit.
They are the ones destroying the game by letting money talk.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Well as this is simply a debate between clueless golfers guessing what may or may not happen none of us have proof, but why on earth would FIFA and UEFA go against this league when financially they would benefit.
They are the ones destroying the game by letting money talk.

Also why exactly would FIFA and UEFA ban the best players in the world when it's those players that make their tournaments the big events - imaging FIFA banning Messi and Ronaldo when they know they can market them to make millions. If a European League happens then UEFA will benefit from it financially no doubt and players won't turn it down because that's where the money and the exposure will be.

 

[Deleted member 18588]

They wouldn't ban players from playing international.

Granted it is many years ago but there is a precedent.

Back in the 50's FIFA banned from international football those players who joined a non-sanctioned big money league in Colombia or Bolivia, not sure which.

Among those affected were Di Stefano and, from England. Neil Franklin.

As Homer said there have been more recent cases in other sports and in the post-Blatter era I certainly wouldn't rule it out.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Granted it is many years ago but there is a precedent.

Back in the 50's FIFA banned from international football those players who joined a non-sanctioned big money league in Colombia or Bolivia, not sure which.

Among those affected were Di Stefano and, from England. Neil Franklin.

As Homer said there have been more recent cases in other sports and in the post-Blatter era I certainly wouldn't rule it out.

The difference will be as with the newly formed Prem all those years back it would be sanctioned

When they were talking about forming it previously it was going to sanctioned

What reason would they not sanction it ? It would be a massive global spinner which would be perfect for FIFA and UEFA

 

[Liverbirdie]

The difference will be as with the newly formed Prem all those years back it would be sanctioned

When they were talking about forming it previously it was going to sanctioned

What reason would they not sanction it ? It would be a massive global spinner which would be perfect for FIFA and UEFA

I agree with some of your points about the "attractiveness" of it to sponsors etc, but I still dont want it to happen.

I disagree, and agree with Homer that a Kerry Packer type breakaway could see sanctions against players and clubs if they try to do it alone, and outside of UEFA/FIFA's auspices.

Overal though, you seem to be in favour of it happening, am I correct?

 

[louise_a]

American professional sport is all about franchises, the more they get involved with European football, the more likelihood is that will go the same way.

 

[GB72]

I am no means an expert on football, not really my sport, but looking at some of the leagues around Europe, they need this are more than the Premier League do. Some of the bigger leagues really do only seem to have one or two clubs that can seriously challenge and anything else is a rarity. PSG being so far ahead of the rest must be killing the French league as far as interest goes, Spain have Barca and Real and then the rest, Germany have Bayern. At least the Premier League throws up a winner from maybe half a dozen clubs.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I agree with some of your points about the "attractiveness" of it to sponsors etc, but I still dont want it to happen.

I disagree, and agree with Homer that a Kerry Packer type breakaway could see sanctions against players and clubs if they try to do it alone, and outside of UEFA/FIFA's auspices.

Overal though, you seem to be in favour of it happening, am I correct?

No I'm not in favour of it happening

Just being realistic to it and can see it happening and it would be within FIFA's agreements because I think it would be a massive money spinner for football and FIFA will benefit from that.

FIFA know that if something did happen with all the mass finance that would it attract would get all the top players going there and they know they need those top players to make the WC a marketing dream - it's all purely financial to them.

The Kerry Packer thjng was an attempt at professional paid cricket for all - now cricket open their arms to it all because of the financial benefits

Everything is controlled by greed and the financial rewards for a European League will make a lot open to it

 

[NWJocko]

Part of the attractiveness of the PL to TV companies is the atmosphere as in England/UK there is a strong culture of going to away games that isn't true across most of Europe.

The atmosphere at Zenit v PSV for example would be even worse than some of the games on TV just now, not exactly an attractive "product" to market compared to Barca v Liverpool, Bayern v Chelsea.

Football is so far up it's own jacksie now it's probably inevitable, part of me hopes it happens and implodes taking all of the foreign owners with it.

If you're not in favour of it Phil you seem quite comfortable about the prospect from your posts, would you feel the same if it was unlikely the club you support would be included?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Part of the attractiveness of the PL to TV companies is the atmosphere as in England/UK there is a strong culture of going to away games that isn't true across most of Europe.

The atmosphere at Zenit v PSV for example would be even worse than some of the games on TV just now, not exactly an attractive "product" to market compared to Barca v Liverpool, Bayern v Chelsea.

Football is so far up it's own jacksie now it's probably inevitable, part of me hopes it happens and implodes taking all of the foreign owners with it.

If you're not in favour of it Phil you seem quite comfortable about the prospect from your posts, would you feel the same if it was unlikely the club you support would be included?

not comfortable - just realistic enough to understand that is very much a possibility and can see it being a financial success ( which is the important thing to owners ) - that feeling is regardless of what clubs are involved.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Part of the attractiveness of the PL to TV companies is the atmosphere as in England/UK there is a strong culture of going to away games that isn't true across most of Europe.

The atmosphere at Zenit v PSV for example would be even worse than some of the games on TV just now, not exactly an attractive "product" to market compared to Barca v Liverpool, Bayern v Chelsea.

Football is so far up it's own jacksie now it's probably inevitable, part of me hopes it happens and implodes taking all of the foreign owners with it.

If you're not in favour of it Phil you seem quite comfortable about the prospect from your posts, would you feel the same if it was unlikely the club you support would be included?

I'm not in favour but think, sadly, it's inevitable, and, picking on our lovable neighbours, they sold out their Far East tour and the crowd was brilliant, 90,000 singing You'll neve......apparently, so who says it will be about atsmosphere, if they fill the stadium the money men won't care if it's filled by nuns or hooligans.

 

[Hacker Khan]

I am no means an expert on football, not really my sport, but looking at some of the leagues around Europe, they need this are more than the Premier League do. Some of the bigger leagues really do only seem to have one or two clubs that can seriously challenge and anything else is a rarity. PSG being so far ahead of the rest must be killing the French league as far as interest goes, Spain have Barca and Real and then the rest, Germany have Bayern. At least the Premier League throws up a winner from maybe half a dozen clubs.

Dortmund could be only 2 points behind Bayern if they beat them this weekend.

But I am being slightly pedantic and do agree with what you say. To me sport is only worth watching if the outcome is unpredictable. And as there is so much money involved and invested in the teams becoming successful, then teams will do all they can to remove the unpredictability. I still say that all the 'draws' (and i use that world lightly) for the champs league and world cups are is an exercise in ensuring the teams with the biggest TV audiences get as far as possible in the competitions to please the sponsors.

 

[Grogger]

Won't happen anytime soon

 

[Deleted member 18588]

The difference will be as with the newly formed Prem all those years back it would be sanctioned

When they were talking about forming it previously it was going to sanctioned

What reason would they not sanction it ? It would be a massive global spinner which would be perfect for FIFA and UEFA

How do you know it will be sanctioned?

The new President of FIFA has already suggested that, on his watch, there will be a different attitude towards the balance between sporting integrity and the demands of the money-men.

Reading what little has come out so far the man from Relevent Sports has spoken only about financial advantages to the participating clubs.

How does that benefit either FIFA or UEFA?

And as a "closed shop" it would rather fail the sporting integrity test or both bodies' stated aims of broadening participation rather than just increasing TV audiences.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

How do you know it will be sanctioned?

The new President of FIFA has already suggested that, on his watch, there will be a different attitude towards the balance between sporting integrity and the demands of the money-men.

Reading what little has come out so far the man from Relevent Sports has spoken only about financial advantages to the participating clubs.

How does that benefit either FIFA or UEFA?

And as a "closed shop" it would rather fail the sporting integrity test or both bodies' stated aims of broadening participation rather than just increasing TV audiences.

What he suggests and what actually happens it an altogether different story

Other sports have closed shops in regards certainly franchises so not sure where this "sports integrity test" comes from - the governing bodies have said lots of words over the decades yet it's just been words with actions meaning a damn sight more.

What they need to grow the game - money

A competition that will provide a damn sight lot of money - a European Super League.

The "sport" is money driven now - and it's not going change and in fact will get worse.