European Super League – What Next?
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Every football fan in Europe knows all about the European Super League and the proposals put forward last week. It involved 12 European clubs who were planning to break away from UEFA and their own governing bodies to create one league.
There were several issues with this plan, with perhaps the major problem for many fans being the fact it was a closed shop. The majority of clubs who would be in the league could never be relegated and this goes against everything football stands for in terms of league competition.
The announcement and subsequent collapse of the European Super League was one of the biggest stories in the history of sport. It appears as though it has reached a conclusion but it is far from over. The question is, what happens next?
Looking specifically at the English Premier League, it has become clear the fans have a lot of power. It was the huge protests by fans and pundits in England that was one of the major factors behind the quick demise of the European Super League.
If the fans have enough power to prevent a competition from taking place, one which was potentially worth billions to the clubs involved, what else can the fans in England do to improve the game?
A fan-led review into the sport is being ordered by the British government and it is believed ownership rules are going to be at the forefront of the review.
There has already been a great deal of discussion regarding the 50+1 ownership model as used in the German Bundesliga. Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund were among the clubs who turned down an invitation to the European Super League and many fans in the UK want their club to adopt the same ownership model.
It is clear the American owners of Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal are keen to prioritise revenue rather than reputation but they have been dealt a massive blow.
The owners of these clubs may now reconsider their commitment to these teams and that could lead to the sale of some of the biggest clubs in the history of English football.
However, although many fans will be hoping that is the case, who has the money to come forward and buy these clubs? The number of interested parties will be limited.
At the time of writing, Executives from the English clubs involved in the creation of the European Super League who currently sit on key Premier League working groups have been told to stand down.
If they do not, they face being voted out. Either way, they will lose their voice on Premier League matters and that could be huge.
Within the Premier League, this is a potential opportunity to reduce the grip the ‘big six’ clubs have over the competition.
A strengthened Owners and Directors Test in addition to greater fan representation on club boards are some of the matters to be discussed in addition to the revamp of the UEFA Champions League, which again favours the ‘big’ clubs.
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