Other European European Super League one step closer?

[QR]

Does this not fall foul of various types of anti-competition/restriction of trade legislation???

If you wanted to set up the world best theme park and bought all the (best) *edit biggest rides is there anything to stop you? Only the courts can rule on this.

 

[TL@69]

its a pity that just a small amount of the energy being put into the condemnation of this proposal isn’t put into getting racism out of not just football but all of society. I’m totally against it for the record.

 

[Sarge]

Decent idea methinks ... roll it out across the country I say

Club News - Grimsby Town Football Club

www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk

 

[Left Wing Cross]

While I've seen the outrage from the English team's fans, I've yet to see anything from the fans of the European sides who have signed up.

Is there a similar response?

 

[bashamwonderland]

If the PL can't expel the clubs due to voting rights, I wonder if the Football League could split from the Premier League and invite all of its participating clubs to join the original format. Hang the PL out to dry. Democratise the competition and the TV rights.

Perhaps they could invent some sort of crazy division 1 - 4 system.

They'd need to tap up the Government for some 51% fan ownership legislation because the owners wouldn't like it, but hey.

 

[bashamwonderland]

While I've seen the outrage from the English team's fans, I've yet to see anything from the fans of the European sides who have signed up.

Is there a similar response?

Italian media are going spare. I've also seen split opinions from Juve fans on Reddit. Haven't seen anything from the Spanish though.

 

[Oxymoron]

Pretty much similar across the continent

 

[Sarge]

While I've seen the outrage from the English team's fans, I've yet to see anything from the fans of the European sides who have signed up.

Is there a similar response?

there was an asian/ oriental chap* on bbc news at ten last night, Inter Milan armchair follower ( never seen them play live in person ) who thought ESL was a great idea as it would mean he could watch 'his' team more often on TV ..... BBC had to trawl the world to find a 'fan' who was in favour it seems?


*cant remember which country he was actually from

 

[Left Wing Cross]

Pretty much similar across the continent

Thanks. It's been difficult to see due to the prevalence of the "English" lens

 

[Malc]

Apparently "My friend Malcolm" chipped in 2 quid for some reason. Anyone I know?

Not me, makker.

 

[werthersoriginal]

The Oxford "brand" is a big thing around the world, whether that would ever translate to football is another thing.

I mean, I've heard of Harvard, and Jakarta, but I'm not interested in whether they have football teams. Cambridge is a comparable university and world brand and they are in League 2.

 

[makv]

The best way to spread the wealth would be to let them have their super league... expel them from the football league.

Then when they come back with their tails between their legs they can spread their wealth through successive promotions from the bottom of the pyramid.

Except they won’t have any wealth by then

 

[holdsteady]

I mean, I've heard of Harvard, and Jakarta, but I'm not interested in whether they have football teams. Cambridge is a comparable university and world brand and they are in League 2.

Looking like league 1 next season. If not us, then, Harvard, Yale and Stoke Polytechnic need to form a midweek academic super league, that will have some Asian knickers soaking and we will be rolling in cash.

 

[derek]

Been having a read around and a listen and I think the threat to prevent players from taking part in national teams is a negotiating mistake. The players have no control over this but threatening them in that way isn't going to endear them to the current footballing bodies.

Equally binning the splitters from the Champions League at the semi-final stages will just harden clubs' resolve. Let the competition finish this year as everyone's put effort into it under the same rules, sanctions should be for next season.

On legalities, I can't see that the ESL can be prevented from starting up, any more than the Premier League could have been prevented. Or any of the the eighty-seven "World" boxing bodies. The "SLCo (Super League Company) has filed a motion before the relevant courts in order to ensure the seamless establishment and operation of the competition in accordance with applicable laws". I'm not sure how they could protect themselves from someone taking action that they probably can't take.

I think the legalities are more likely to come into play when we hear more about who's behind the broadcasting of the Splitters League (Amazon anyone?) and Sky, BT etc get all antsy about the effective breach of contracts. Or finding out their contracts are worthless without the splitters.

 

[unification]

I'm coming to that conclusion too. No idea whether the Premier League can expel the greedy six or not without starting potentially years of legal action, but I'd like to see them b****r off to 'Europe' and the top six Championship clubs take their place. (Won't happen though. If the 'top six' are no longer involved sponsors will disappear and the Premier League will fold).

This morning I've had to endure 'football fans' in China and India telling me how great the new league will be and how they just don't understand how anyone could object. I'll bet they've never heard of Oxford United or Barrow or Bury.

Perhaps the new football overlords will eventually create a second division (with no promotion or relegation, of course) to mop up the next twelve 'super clubs', like Ajax and Benfica and PSG and Bayern Munich.

I would understand the ESL clubs’ position more if this was a complete breakaway, ie ‘we’re all leaving our respective country’s pyramids and starting a new league’. However they seem to want to have their cake and eat it too by staying in a domestic structure. How can a side like Man City expect to play 38 PL games, UCL matches, domestic cup games and ESL games? You know which of those tournaments would be dropped first too. The devaluation of the FA and League Cups has continued for years now.

I just want them to go. Just go and create your ESL with your 20 chosen teams and get out of the English league structure for good. Keep your no relegation rules, the same constant teams playing each other over and over and over again, probably never in their stadiums they currently call home. It’s not a product I’m remotely interested in watching. Every FA from sides that join it should say that it would be no way back too if it goes tits up. They can have their own cup competition if they wish too but they will have no access to the UCL. They can be the pariah clubs playing their own greed game.

Whilst in essence, every domestic league product thereafter would look second rate, it would level the playing field somewhat and hopefully would bring some of the reforms we all really want. Personally, I would want football to feel special again – a European Cup of straight KO games rather than the bloated, overlong UCL, less TV football and more Saturday 3pm/midweek 7.45pm games, cup winners qualifying for European competition not teams in fourth and no second chances in European competitions where if you exit one you can qualify for another.

I’m too angry about this to talk about the fans. There will be thousands of legitimate fans who will sadly see their club become a franchise plaything. However, I know full well that the ESL will be a success – because people will not have the conviction to turn it off. Millions will subscribe because, lo and behold, it’s Real Madrid v Manchester United again. Until football fans start seeing that their subscriptions and engagement with the money men actually further the cause of the ESL, this idea will not die.

 

[mooro]

Been having a read around and a listen and I think the threat to prevent players from taking part in national teams is a negotiating mistake. The players have no control over this but threatening them in that way isn't going to endear them to the current footballing bodies.

Equally binning the splitters from the Champions League at the semi-final stages will just harden clubs' resolve. Let the competition finish this year as everyone's put effort into it under the same rules, sanctions should be for next season.

Agree on these, I'll leave the legalities to the lawyers.

 

[mooro]

Loving the fact that Wolves have declared themselves league champions 2018/19.....

..... and Southampton have responded by tweeting:

"On behalf of the 2014/15 champions, we would like to extend our congratulations to you "

 

[holdsteady]

I would understand the ESL clubs’ position more if this was a complete breakaway, ie ‘we’re all leaving our respective country’s pyramids and starting a new league’. However they seem to want to have their cake and eat it too by staying in a domestic structure. How can a side like Man City expect to play 38 PL games, UCL matches, domestic cup games and ESL games? You know which of those tournaments would be dropped first too. The devaluation of the FA and League Cups has continued for years now.

I just want them to go. Just go and create your ESL with your 20 chosen teams and get out of the English league structure for good. Keep your no relegation rules, the same constant teams playing each other over and over and over again, probably never in their stadiums they currently call home. It’s not a product I’m remotely interested in watching. Every FA from sides that join it should say that it would be no way back too if it goes tits up. They can have their own cup competition if they wish too but they will have no access to the UCL. They can be the pariah clubs playing their own greed game.

Whilst in essence, every domestic league product thereafter would look second rate, it would level the playing field somewhat and hopefully would bring some of the reforms we all really want. Personally, I would want football to feel special again – a European Cup of straight KO games rather than the bloated, overlong UCL, less TV football and more Saturday 3pm/midweek 7.45pm games, cup winners qualifying for European competition not teams in fourth and no second chances in European competitions where if you exit one you can qualify for another.

I’m too angry about this to talk about the fans. There will be thousands of legitimate fans who will sadly see their club become a franchise plaything. However, I know full well that the ESL will be a success – because people will not have the conviction to turn it off. Millions will subscribe because, lo and behold, it’s Real Madrid v Manchester United again. Until football fans start seeing that their subscriptions and engagement with the money men actually further the cause of the ESL, this idea will not die.

I agree with this, the big clubs will go eventually so make them go now, sooner the better. It will be hard for the rest of football in the short term but we will get English football back in the long term. Eventually most of those English clubs who leave will leave this country anyway, why have 3 London teams when you can move one to Shanghai? So I would bet that in twenty years the clubs who stay behind will be in a better state than Tottenham.

 

[Wallop]

there was an asian/ oriental chap* on bbc news at ten last night, Inter Milan armchair follower ( never seen them play live in person ) who thought ESL was a great idea as it would mean he could watch 'his' team more often on TV ..... BBC had to trawl the world to find a 'fan' who was in favour it seems?


*cant remember which country he was actually from

There was an OUFC fan ‘James‘ on 5 live last night in support of it saying how he looks forward to watching Liverpool v Real Madrid each week - t**t

 

[Oxymoron]

I just want them to go. Just go and create your ESL with your 20 chosen teams and get out of the English league structure for good.

Quite. I have very little interest in watching Premier League football, nor the existing Champions League tbh, so from that viewpoint, I really don't care if they go - I don't watch them now, I wouldn’t watch them in an ESL.

But don't hang around dishing out your "solidarity payments" as a bribe to keep the lower orders in check and the spectre of your "B" teams keeping your presence in the league intact. I know it will be hard without the crumbs from your table and there will be casualties, but the league and the game will survive and both will be the better for it.