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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
let me explain how a genuine and passionate soccer fan is going to react to this, e.g., me.
Fair enough. I don't watch soccer with any rooting interest so this doesn't really matter to me one way or another. I'll watch the WC and Euros because its always fun to see the big time international matches IMO.
How is that different than WGC & the FedEx Cup? Personally, I'd love to see a "super tour" that featured more high stake matches in Europe, South Africa, Australia & Japan where many of the top international players are from.
Follow-up question. This isn't me picking a fight. My son and I have gotten into international soccer for a while. Primarily EPL. He's a big Man U guys (because his first soccer coach was a fanatic). I have less rooting interest. I've come to enjoy the set-up of the league with relegation. I didn't love a lack of playoff because the champion is generally a foregone conclusion a month or two before the end of the season. But the Champion's League and Europa League qualification helps.
I am a Liverpool fan as well and find this atrocious. It defeats the whole point of earning your respect and your spot, belittles the english league pyramid, and pretty much tells smaller clubs to f off. Greed and naivety runs deep.
