European Super League

[seafoid]

Gary Neville

https://youtu.be/ZQdWSsbTUVo


https://www.ft.com/content/4cbef20a-7599-4580-82aa-2af383bd0f5a

Many of Europe's wealthiest football clubs have agreed to join a breakaway "Super League" competition that would mark the biggest transformation of the game in decades. Up to 12 clubs have signed up to a plan, backed by $6bn in debt financing from JPMorgan, to launch a new tournament that would supersede the Champions League, currently the continent's top annual club competition. According to people with knowledge of the discussions, those ready to join the breakaway contest include Spain's Real Madrid and FC Barcelona; England's Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea; and Italy's Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan. These clubs either declined or did not respond to a request for comment.


The new league, according to documents seen by the Financial Times, would involve 20 clubs with 15 being "permanent members", meaning they could not be relegated and would not need to qualify through strong performances in national league competitions.  The founder members would be granted between €100m-€350m each and would continue to play in their national competitions, such as England's Premier League and Spain's La Liga. With expected revenues of €4bn for the competition through media and sponsorship sales, clubs would receive a fixed payment of €264m a year. JPMorgan declined to comment. The clubs not yet signed up include France's Paris Saint-Germain and Germany's Bayern Munich, among the richest in Europe, according to people close to the discussions. A declaration about the Super League is designed to head off an alternative plan for a radical transformation of the Champions League, which is run by Uefa, European football'sgoverning body. 

[David McKeown]

As I said on the PL thread whilst I completely agree with what he is saying its hard to take it seriously being said from behind the mic of an organisation that has funded and benefited from a break away league for almost 30 years.  Particularly as it was the same break away league that contributed to his fame, fortune and his current work.

[clarshack]

So this is basically an elite champions league? the teams would still play in their own national leagues.

[David McKeown]

So this is basically an elite champions league? the teams would still play in their own national leagues.

I think that was the plan but the national associations and the Premier League have koboshed that so it might now be a straight league instead of a domestic league

[Captain Obvious]

Arsenal finished 8th in the Premier league last season and are currently 9th why would they be involved in a super league?

[SHEEDY]

As I said on the PL thread whilst I completely agree with what he is saying its hard to take it seriously being said from behind the mic of an organisation that has funded and benefited from a break away league for almost 30 years.  Particularly as it was the same break away league that contributed to his fame, fortune and his current work.

this breakaway league is different though as its a closed shop. Invite only and no threat of relegation. The original Premier league was basically just a continuation of the old football league top division. Teams like Swindon, Barnsley, Oldham etc were all in Premier league in early days.

[BennyCake]

The money men have already ripped the arsehole out of the Champions League. Dozens of meaningless games among the same teams. It doesn't get remotely interesting until the QFs. And maybe not even then.

Now this shite. The money men are doing a good job at ruining football.

[seafoid]

15 teams who can't get relegated
It's a closed shop.

Imagine a  GAA where Galway, Mayo, Meath, Tyrone and Cork were guaranteed quarter finals

[seafoid]

https://www.ft.com/content/4cbef20a-7599-4580-82aa-2af383bd0f5a

The competition would resemble the structure of "closed" North American sports leagues, where franchise owners enjoy reliable profits and with the valuation of teams steadily rising over time. 

[David McKeown]

So the only issue is the lack of promotion and relegation? I'm abhorred by the idea of a super league but that issue is far from the most important one as far as I'm concerned. I mean you could easily extend the league to 24 teams have no equivalent to the current European competitions and then introduce some form of relegation. The super league would still not be good for football

[Capt Pat]

For me the important thing is what happens with free to air football. If that stays pretty much the same like it is in the champions league then I don't have a problem with this.

[Sportacus]

I wouldn't be in favour at all, but it's a bit of an irony that Sky pundits are leading the criticism.  Buying success in soccer is already an established principle.

[seafoid]

The Champions League is usually won by one of the richest clubs but it's never set in stone. In recent years , Dortmund, Atletico, Monaco , Ajax and others -none of them in the breakaway list- have reached the final stages. The new proposal would end the possibility of this.

[BennyCake]

4 of that 6 mightn't even finish in the top 6 this season.

What if say, Arsenal, got relegated to the championship?

[rodney trotter]

For me the important thing is what happens with free to air football. If that stays pretty much the same like it is in the champions league then I don't have a problem with this.

The Champions League would be a half arsed competition with the big teams no longer in it.
Though maybe more traditional Clubs like Ajax, Porto. would benefit in the Champions League, without the Sugar Daddy clubs involved.

Between this and the World Cup in Qatar, losing its respect.