While it’s still unclear whether the European Super League will happen or not, the possibility of the competition happening received a big boost after the European Union’s top court ruled that UEFA and FIFA acted unlawfully when they attempted to block the Super League project. A landmark moment as teams can now have more control over their destiny without the fear of being sanctioned by the game’s governing leaders.
We’ve all seen the teams that have come out in support of the decision, those who claim that they don’t want to be part of the Super League, and others who have taken the opportunity to launch their populist campaign. Whatever happens with the European Super League project, I wanted to give my personal opinion on the current situation.
Changes need to be made
Under the guidance of FIFA and UEFA, football is getting worse and will only continue to decline. They’re destroying the game’s most prestigious competitions by adding more teams and increasing the amount of matches (many of them pointless). Something which is resulting in more injuries, decreasing the quality of play, and diluting its competition.
Not to mention they’re making it harder each season for fans to support their teams with high ticket prices, setting finals and tournaments at distanced locations, and unfairly distributing tickets with most of them going to sponsors.
Then there’s the matter that FIFA and UEFA aren’t precisely known for being honest organizations and making decisions that are in the best interest of the game (secret dealings with Qatar that saw them host the World Cup and have significant control within UEFA for example)
Despite all this, FIFA and UEFA still have the nerve to talk about wanting to defend the values of football, when they’re the ones who have done everything to destroy them. If we want actual changes to happen, we can’t expect them to come from FIFA or UEFA because all their leaders care about is exploiting the game for political purposes to remain in power.
Will football actually be ruined?
Many say that the European Super League would be an elitist competition that wouldn’t give modest clubs an opportunity to take part in, even with the competition having promotion and relegation. But when was the last time you remember a modest club going far and actually competing to win the Champions League title? Probably the closest one would be Ajax reaching the semifinals in 2019, and they’re one of the Champions League’s most iconic teams.
Every season when the Champions League groups are drawn, many pundits and even fans argue the group stages are predictable and that it’s always the same teams reaching the latter stages. So if these modest teams can barely compete to even get out of the group stage and it’s always the same big clubs reaching the latter stages, then what’s the problem with the Super League project only being for elite teams?
It’s also ironic to see how quickly teams have come out to reject it. Many of these clubs have complained about UEFA’s revenue distribution, while its managers and players are upset with the amount of games they have to play each season; yet none of them have actually made attempts to find solutions to change things. While the concerns about the Super League are understandable, it’s a proposition that’s at least been put on the table and should be considered.
Power and interest will determine the Super League’s future
I don’t know whether the European Super League will happen or not. That said, if it doesn’t happen, it won’t be because of fans protesting against it like many want you to believe. If the Super League proj isn’t happening at this moment, it’s simply because it doesn’t have enough power and support behind the scenes (political, financial, etc).
When the Super League was originally announced a few years ago, we shouldn’t forget that several political leaders immediately came out to condemn the project and wanted to prohibit its teams from being part of it. This shows the power and influence that UEFA (as well as FIFA) has.
However, if the European Super League is able to get the necessary support it needs to begin, all those clubs who pulled out or immediately rejected it will jump through hoops to be a part of it. Even Bayern Munich, who has been the Super League’s biggest critic, will get on board with the project. Let’s not forget they spent years criticizing others for inflating the transfer market, then spent €100 million on Harry Kane and €30 million to sign a COACH (Julian Nagelsmann).
Regardless, whatever happens, the Super League’s creation will not only come down to finances but also power and interest that will be able to sustain it.
Javier Martinez is a seasoned veteran of football coverage and an expert on Spanish football. He has been covering world football for more than seven years with bylines at outlets such as The 18 and The Real Champs.