OT: European Soccer Super League

[CTBasketball]

I’m honestly surprised it took this long.

 

[uconnsouth]

Going to be fascinating to watch this play out

 

[djct1999]

Thought I saw no German or French club is in this (yet)? I’m sure PSG will be in

 

[djct1999]

Wasn't sure if I should put this in the stock trading thread?

 

[navery12]

If rumors of this league happening were all it took to get rid of Mourinho I wish this happened a year and a half ago

 

[ColchVEGAS]

I get the feeling the German and French clubs are waiting to see how this plays out. If the league does go forward you better believe the top clubs will be looking to be apart of this, the money will be too much to turn down.

The interesting thing will be the 5 teams that can be relegated. How will this be decided? If FIFA and the domestic leagues begin banning teams for participating in the Super League and the 5 teams are rotating in and out will the domestic leagues accept them back if they are relegated? What will happen if they do not? Another league will have to be formed for the teams that cannot play domestically and have been relegated from the Super League.

 

[hardcorehusky]

I like the hybrid idea of permanent teams and teams that could get relegated. Problem is, there needs to be minimum criteria to be met in order to stay in the league. Arsenal can't finish bottom 4 years running and stay in(for example). I think it gets opened up a little bit more to 24 teams with 9 open spots and it becomes a bigger version of Champions League.

I would rather see this than keep what is but add a competition below Europa League which is coming next year.

 

[SubbaBub]

Fans will get over it because they may not have a choice. So Liverpool fans will stop going to Anfield because they are playing Barcelona or Juventus instead of Leiscester or Aston Villa? That is total bs. Sure, there will be initial pushback by traditionalists but soccer fans are extremely loyal and that won’t change w better competition. like Aburks said previously, this is a power play by the top clubs. The epl and la liga will get destroyed without it’s top clubs. The World Cup will get destroyed without the top players from the top clubs. There will be some sort of compromise but these 12 clubs are about to get paid!

What happens if players from Liverpool are never allowed to play in the FA or any other FIFA governed match.

Imagine if playing in the USFL barred a player from the NFL for life. It's bot just about fans. And yes, FIFA and the governments of soccer loving nations would absolutely do this. It is that much of a threat to them.

Where would teams relegated from this new league play? Their home FA's wouldn't take them back.

A super league of 12 teams would be just that, a league of only 12 teams and a finite pool of players. It'd be the WHA combined with Nebraska going to the Big 10. An idea doomed to fail and forever damage the legacy of the teams involved.

 

[SubbaBub]

Btw, you'd think after our AAC experience, that a UConn board would understand the impotence of having historic ties to your opponents. Your brand as a team is a perishable item.

 

[djct1999]

I am trying to wrap my head around why any player would be banned from playing for his country because of league affiliation. Feels like FIFA wants another kickback. Honest question, would that even hold up in court?

 

[ColchVEGAS]

I am trying to wrap my head around why any player would be banned from playing for his country because of league affiliation. Feels like FIFA wants another kickback. Honest question, would that even hold up in court?

FIFA has a stake in all the leagues and this would be competition and take money out of their pocket. I think this would hold up in court because FIFA controls the World Cup so they can set the rules of participation.

FIFA wants to get paid is really all it is. I think this super league would ruin European football competition long term.

 

[HuskyHawk]

FIFA has a stake in all the leagues and this would be competition and take money out of their pocket. I think this would hold up in court because FIFA controls the World Cup so they can set the rules of participation.

FIFA wants to get paid is really all it is. I think this super league would ruin European football competition long term.

I don't think it will happen. It will cause FIFA and UEFA to make changes to the Champions League (they already have) and perhaps allow these clubs to leverage their status with their own leagues for more money. There is huge risk to these clubs, aside from the threats already made. Somebody is going to finish in last place, when they would otherwise likely be a top 3 in their home league.

 

[McLovin]

@bendm @djct1999 isn't Olympic soccer played with countries "B" teams mostly? I don't recall the Olympic's soccer tournament generating nearly as much buzz as a World Cup, and that has country pride on the line. I'd assume most people don't care because the top players from each country aren't participating, meaning the gold medal is just a watered down trophy.

Edit: to tie it back to basketball. Would there be as much interest in watching the USA Men's Olympic basketball team compete if LeBron, KD, Irving, etc. didn't play and just a bunch of "B" team guys wearing USA a jersey?

 

[goskis2018]

It's such an American thing to do. Of the 12 named clubs, at least 4 are American owned.

It's driven by the American owners as well, they are using the Pandemic as an excuse to protect their investments using the U.S. Franchise structure.

 

[McLovin]

Btw, you'd think after our AAC experience, that a UConn board would understand the impotence of having historic ties to your opponents. Your brand as a team is a perishable item.

The thing is, the teams breaking away are equivalent to the now P5 schools who hold all the leverage when it comes to setting schedules, TV rights and money. The teams not invited will be the ones relegated to the AAC like fate.

Do you think the Syracuse or Louisville administration care what their alumni or fans think about historic ties when they are cashing that big media check? Their "brand" is fine because they get to play Duke and UNC twice per year & sell a bunch of tickets and get fantastic TV exposure from the talking heads at ESPN. Within a decade, people will forget that they were once part of a conference called "The Big East", much like how people forget teams like VT and Miami were once part of that league.

 

[Greedo]

@bendm @djct1999 isn't Olympic soccer played with countries "B" teams mostly? I don't recall the Olympic's soccer tournament generating nearly as much buzz as a World Cup, and that has country pride on the line. I'd assume most people don't care because the top players from each country aren't participating, meaning the gold medal is just a watered down trophy.

Edit: to tie it back to basketball. Would there be as much interest in watching the USA Men's Olympic basketball team compete if LeBron, KD, Irving, etc. didn't play and just a bunch of "B" team guys wearing USA a jersey?

Olympic soccer only allows a few players above a certain age, so it pretty much guarantees that it's not that country's stars playing.

 

[ColchVEGAS]

Juve just lost to Porto in UEFA Champions League, which brings a ton of money to Porto. These clubs rely on the Champions League and Europa League tournaments to fund their operations. Obviously winning these tournaments is the end goal for these clubs, but just qualifying for them is hige. Without the likes of the prestigious teams participating that money will shrink significantly.

 

[McLovin]

Olympic soccer only allows a few players above a certain age, so it pretty much guarantees that it's not that country's stars playing.

Right, and since the stars can't play, people care much less. If the stars could play, while it still wouldn't hold the prestige of a WC title, I bet the hype and viewership around the tournament would be much greater.

 

[ARIDE]

Can we get kickball off this BB forum!

 

[goskis2018]

The EPL would cease to exist if they banned their top 6 clubs. They have absolutely zero leverage over them and the clubs know it

Not true at all. The deck is completely stacked against the BPL clubs, in fact. Not only will their fanbases revolt, already this is perceived as a Yankee cash grab done during the Pandemic when the power of the fanbases is weakened, but Boris has already come out to say the government will do whatever they can to blow it up. The FA, the football leagues, FIFA, and EUFA would smother these clubs if they all separated off by simply banning athletes who participate in the competition from all FIFA/EUFA sponsored events.

The truth is, this is a negotiation tactic rather than anything else. Liverpool's ownership was trying to strong arm the Premier League a few months ago as part of negotiations to save clubs lower down the footballing pyramid. This is more of the same, with more pressure applied on the BPL as well as the UCL. At the end of the day, American owners can't stomach the fact that owning a European super power carries the risk of the value of the investment going nil. Unfortunately for John Henry and co, the sense amongst the British Public is that the goal of American owners is to first lock in their value and then milk their clubs for profits going forward. If you're American, you may think they have a shot of pulling this off. If you have European roots and understand what the sport is culturally on the continent, you would know this is nothing but a PR nightmare Europe's elite have stumbled into.

 

[Greedo]

Not true at all. The deck is completely stacked against the BPL clubs, in fact. Not only will their fanbases revolt, already this is perceived as a Yankee cash grab done during the Pandemic when the power of the fanbases is weakened, but Boris has already come out to say the government will do whatever they can to blow it up. The FA, the football leagues, FIFA, and EUFA would smother these clubs if they all separated off by simply banning athletes who participate in the competition from all FIFA/EUFA sponsored events.

The truth is, this is a negotiation tactic rather than anything else. Liverpool's ownership was trying to strong arm the Premier League a few months ago as part of negotiations to save clubs lower down the footballing pyramid. This is more of the same, with more pressure applied on the BPL as well as the UCL. At the end of the day, American owners can't stomach the fact that owning a European super power carries the risk of the value of the investment going nil. Unfortunately for John Henry and co, the sense amongst the British Public is that the goal of American owners is to first lock in their value and then milk their clubs for profits going forward. If you're American, you may think they have a shot of pulling this off. If you have European roots and understand what the sport is culturally on the continent, you would know this is nothing but a PR nightmare Europe's elite have stumbled into.

I have a hard time seeing Klopp, with his values, staying at Liverpool after this. I could be wrong, but based on what he's said in the past, I don't see him sticking around after this season.

 

[bmayuc]

Btw, you'd think after our AAC experience, that a UConn board would understand the impotence of having historic ties to your opponents. Your brand as a team is a perishable item.

Interestingly the meaning of this sentence is exactly as valid if you substitute "importance" for "impotence"

 

[goskis2018]

I have a hard time seeing Klopp, with his values, staying at Liverpool after this. I could be wrong, but based on what he's said in the past, I don't see him sticking around after this season.

He's been on the record over the past few years as against the idea. I love Kloppo, there are not many sports figures I hold in higher esteem, but if he were to tow the party line on this one he would light his personal reputation on fire. Liverpool as whole will have their reputation and tradition dragged through the mud over this. The Club is based out of a hard left city in England and it's club legends were devout Socialists off the field. Yet FSG seems to think they will be able to steam roll the fans of the "people's club" via woke platitudes on banners in the stands, a tactic that might work in the states but I suspect isn't enough of a smokescreen across the pond. From browsing the reactions across the board this morning, it seems like this is universally considered a power grab by the owners that is driven by greed and not by what is best for the clubs.

 

[outlaw]

Deduct points from all 6 clubs or send them straight to the championship. You want your super league AND (meaningless, no strive for top-4) domestic football? Here ya go. Couldn't agree with you more, @goskis2018 , the reaction in Liverpool says it all. #FSGOUT

 

[Greedo]

He's been on the record over the past few years as against the idea. I love Kloppo, there are not many sports figures I hold in higher esteem, but if he were to tow the party line on this one he would light his personal reputation on fire. Liverpool as whole will have their reputation and tradition dragged through the mud over this. The Club is based out of a hard left city in England and it's club legends were devout Socialists off the field. Yet FSG seems to think they will be able to steam roll the fans of the "people's club" via woke platitudes on banners in the stands, a tactic that might work in the states but I suspect isn't enough of a smokescreen across the pond. From browsing the reactions across the board this morning, it seems like this is universally considered a power grab by the owners that is driven by greed and not by what is best for the clubs.

I agree, I was a Liverpool fan long before Klopp, but Klopp has become my favorite manager of all time, and possibly my favorite coach of all time in any sport. If he leaves after this, there's a good chance my fandom will follow him wherever he goes. With FSG in ownership of Liverpool, the club no longer represents why I became a fan of them in the first place, which you cited above.