Editorial | An ugly idea for the beautiful game

The extraordinary collapse of a new Super League for Europe’s richest football teams highlights the troubled state of the sport, notably the wealth gap between the top clubs and all the others. Fan power scuppered the deeply unpopular plan within two days of it being announced. Now, the focus should be on bringing in a more equitable model, while maintaining football’s culture and traditions. Developments will be closely watched not just in Europe but by millions of fans around the world.

The Super League would have seen 12 of the biggest teams from England, Spain and Italy forming a new competition, with other big-hitters expected to join. The move was all about money. Each club stood to gain huge sums in broadcasting revenue. But the league was to be a closed shop. It would not be possible for any of these teams to be relegated, no matter how badly they performed. This, as Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said, “is not sport”. It would have shattered the idea that any team, no matter how small, could rise to the top. The plan was hatched by wealthy club owners. They did not consult their supporters, players or coaches. It was a public relations disaster and the whole scheme quickly unravelled. Fans staged protests and star players spoke out. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged to stop the league. The six English clubs involved rapidly pulled out and other participants followed.

There is a need for a fairer model for European football, as the sport suffers from the financial hit it has taken during the pandemic. More of the enormous sums made by the top teams in broadcasting revenues should filter through to poorer clubs in the lower leagues. Women’s football deserves to be given a bigger slice of the pie. Star players in the men’s game earn far too much and clubs recoup the money by raising ticket prices for fans. Broadcasters impose high charges on supporters who want to watch their coverage. The fans often feel they are ignored and forgotten. The Super League exposed the greed and arrogance of the owners of big European clubs. Much of their revenue comes in the form of broadcasting rights funded by fans around the world, including Hong Kong. It is time to reset the football model in Europe for the benefit of all who love the game.