Proposed European Super League Faces Backlash From Football Fans All Over the World

By
Shawn Ambrose
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“Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it’s much more serious than that.” – Bill Shankly. 

Most football fans are familiar with despair.

This typically occurs when your team constantly disappoints you by losing, much like Arsenal this season (sorry).

This sadness only lasts a couple of hours, after which you start looking forward to the next game with even more expectations of success.

In the last couple of days, however, football fans all over the world haven’t gotten sad or disappointed about their team’s results because they’re too busy seething with rage.

And it’s all thanks to the European Super League.

Proposed European Super League Faces Backlash From Football Fans All Over the World

12 of the biggest clubs in Europe, including Manchester United, Liverpool, and Barcelona, are planning to form their own breakaway league called the European Super League.

The move has provoked massive backlash not just from the football fans, but from official organizing bodies as well.

If the proposed move goes through, it could have a huge impact on existing competitions like the English Premier League, Spain’s La Liga, and the UEFA Champions League.

Is this really as bad as fans are making it out to be? Well, before we get into that, let’s explore the structure of the league.

20 Clubs Split Into Two Groups of 10

At the moment, there are 15 founding clubs involved, three of which have not been named yet. The other 12 clubs are:

  • Manchester United
  • Liverpool
  • Manchester City
  • Arsenal
  • Chelsea
  • Tottenham Hotspur
  • Barcelona
  • Real Madrid
  • Atlético Madrid
  • Juventus
  • AC Milan
  • Inter Milan

As you can see, six clubs are from the English Premier League, three are from La Liga, and another three are from the Italian Serie A.

Another five clubs could join these 15 clubs by qualifying based on their previous seasons’ achievements. What these achievements actually mean, however, no one knows yet.

According to the founding clubs, clubs in the Super League will continue to take part in their domestic leagues, but play Super League matches midweek.

Two groups of 10 will play home and away matches, and the top three in each group will automatically qualify for a knockout stage.

Clubs in fourth and fifth places in each league will compete in a two-legged match to qualify for the knockouts.

The remaining eight teams will then take part in a two-legged knockout mini-tournament of sorts to reach a final, which will take place at a neutral stadium.

We may not have to wait long to see what the Super League will look like, because the founding teams are aiming to start the competition in August 2021.

Fans Furious, Football Associations Condemn Move

As you can imagine, football fans are not happy, especially the ones who support these founding clubs.

Current and former footballers have also spoken out against it, one of the most passionate voices being ex-Manchester United defender Gary Neville.

Even football associations like the Union of European Football Association (UEFA)—which organises the Champions League—have criticised the move, saying it will do everything in its power to prevent the league from forming.

“If this were to happen, we wish to reiterate that we—UEFA, the English FA, RFEF, FIGC, the Premier League, LaLiga, 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,” UEFA said.

“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,” it added.

Why Are People So Upset?

Well, there are two main reasons: greed and open competition.

The clubs who are entering this competition are already big, filthy rich clubs who stand to make considerable profits if this new league is formed.

To make such a financially greedy move, especially during a pandemic when many lower-league football clubs have struggled to survive with some footballers “living paycheck to paycheck”, is seen as unconscionable and even immoral.

Secondly, it destroys the spirit of football, which is all about open competition. Instead of working hard and playing well to qualify for the Champions League every year, these 15 clubs believe they have the right to be in such a prestigious competition solely because of their past achievements.

It’d be like your classmate demanding that your teacher give him an A for the final year exam without taking it because he’s gotten an A for all the previous tests.

In addition, the formation of the Super League could also shatter the traditional structures of European football, which includes domestic leagues.

UEFA Threatens to Ban Clubs in Super League From All Competitions

Love the English Premier League, the La Liga, or the Champions League? Well, these competitions may never be the same again if the Super League is formed.

In its statement, UEFA warned the founding clubs that they could be banned from domestic and international competitions if they set up the proposed rival to the Champions League.

“The clubs concerned will be banned from playing in any other competition at domestic, European or world level, and their players could be denied the opportunity to represent their national teams,” UEFA said.

Yes, this means that we could have an English Premier League without Manchester United and Liverpool, which would be unfathomable.

It’s interesting to see if the players and managers will go against the board members and owners of the club, who often pay them hundreds of thousands of pounds a week.

One thing’s for sure though: if the Super League is formed, football will never be the same again.

Feature Image: Twitter (@1JamesCHELSEA)

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Shawn Ambrose
Email: [email protected]