FOOTBALL POLITICS....and City

[john68]

Bay Blue,
Thanks for kind words, they are always appreciated.

The initial clues and evidence came from Unal Aysal (Galatasary Chairman) and Andrea Agnelli (President of Juventus), at a recent "Leader (In Football) conference in London.
It was said that
"Serious talks had already taken place and that all the clubs were in favour of it".
"It was to be set up to begin in 2018, when the current Memorandum of Understanding [ECA/FiFA/UeFA] expired."
"The top 15-20 clubs all agree with this."
"There may be one or two exceptions for local reasons, political reasons, but I understand this."
Agnelli added;
“If one was to break out of the system, probably the best competition that could follow is a closed competition with the 20 best European clubs,”

On top of those comments, a number of elite club officials have made similar statements and called for a super league in the past.
Bayern consider they have outgrown the German League, which seems to be a common theme among the powerful non English clubs.

The European based clubs also see the much richer Premier League and the income English clubs get domestically, compared to their own domestic leagues.

It is also worth noting that over the years, the threat of a European Super League has risen several times and on each occasion it has been stopped by UeFA caving in to demands in order to retain their governance and not lose their crown jewels.

I have skimmed that but it should explain what you were asking. Hope that helps.

[Ted Hughes]

I think the 20 club, invitation only superleague is a gun to the head of FIFA/UEFA.

I think it would be a disasterous mistake by the clubs involved if they decided to actually go through with it in that form.

[john68]

Ted,
Gun to UeFA's head it may be but I do think the clubs are determined to head that way. Maybe a case of "We are going to do this whether you [UeFA] like it or lump it." My opinion is that UeFA will not want their biggest clubs outside the tent and will do as they have always done and cave in.

For the English clubs who have a lot of crucial big games in the Prem each season, It is the fear. of missing out on the lucrative global exposure and huge profits from playing in the [currently] highest profile competition of the CL. The rags are out, L'pool have been out for quite a while and Arsenal can no longer guarantee qualification.

For those clubs on mainland Europe, it is double edged. Many of them look enviously at the Prem and its huge income. They want to be a part of something similar, but not possible for them domestically.
The bigger clubs who feel they have outgrown their own domestic leagues, see a weekly league competition against similarly globally high profile clubs, as opposed to quite low profile games against their much smaller domestic rivals. Bayern v Freiburg or Bayern v Barca. Juve v Real Madrid orJuve v Sassuolo.

On the point of it being closed and becoming boring, there are many successful leagues in many global sports that don't have promotion or relegation. They continue to be competitively and financially successful.

Sadly Ted, there is a whole global market and new generation that is happy to swallow whatever the hype and marketeers tell them. McDonalds, KFC, need i say more, but i do so hope you are right.