[Football] Liverpool and Manchester United lead ‘European League’ breakout league idea

[Napper]

Now I see the Tory government are getting involved I'm pretty confident it is just a game of bluff to get more money.

The tories wouldn't get involved without knowing they can win. This is a vote winner for them.

These clubs will end up with a much bigger slice of the pies . The prem will become less competitive and the Tories can claim some credit.

 

[beorhthelm]

the irony of this is UEFA revamp Champions League, which no one really likes, is the catalyst for this. if they kept it a bit more elite with fewer rather than letting more mid-table, mid-tier clubs in, and allowed the clubs to take the overseas revenue, they probably wouldnt be so inclinded to break-away.

 

[McTavish]

It’s not a workable solution that benefits football though and that is the point of the opposition to the plans. Watching Agnelli being interviewed about the ESL he is very clear that this is all about the revenue to be gained from the big clubs playing each other rather than against smaller clubs from smaller countries. He couldn’t care less about football. In fact he equates Juventus etc being in trouble with football being in trouble. He and the rest are putting an intentional cap on the ambitions of every football club on the continent barring the 12. Jamie Carracher also made the point that they are leveraging the history of our clubs established a long time before the arrival of these foreign billionaires. We should not be aiming for compromise with organizations that only care about their own interests.

Yes, I agree with you entirely. All I am suggesting is that it might be best to find a compromise that can work for more people rather than ending up with the currently proposed ESL.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

Why the need for new contracts if they have got one?

You do appear to like this idea.

Cheating you way to the top table. AGAIN.

No, I’m dead against it, you just don’t seem to grasp the clubs involved have more power in this situation than you would like

Didn’t realise contracts are never ending

You Seem to think I’m bothered or affected by something that happened before I was born and it’s done deep hurtful cut.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

I agree, but a lot of people on this thread are saying "good riddance, happy to have a more competitive league again

I know that's not what's being proposed - it's what I'm proposing. It's a whole league so each team would play each of the other teams twice a year - no first league stage where you might end up playing Braga, Atalanta or some team from Albania. Guaranteed two matches against Juventus, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, PSG and Real Madrid

They're my proposals.

Yes, agreed to a certain extent, but my starting point is that something like this is inevitable so do we want getting into the ESL difficult or impossible? I would also expect the Europa league or similar to continue so there would still be a chance to play in Europe.
The ESL teams benefit from being assured of home and away matches against all the top teams in Europe every year.
I hadn't even considered that travelling fans were any part of the calculations by the ESL or UEFA - I was talking about the teams.

Many thanks for your thoughtful comments.

Just heard Shearer (Mary Poppins, as he was known as a player) calling everyone to arms with a suggestion that the six flouncer can flounce off forever. I rather like that attitude and am quite encouraged by the general agressive opposition to the plans.

So, presently, I'm not interested in finding a middle way, or an alternative arrangement for an ESL. I really feel this woule be like working out a payment plan to give a bully some of your pocket money as an alternative to handing it all over or getting a punch in the face. I still think we should be telling these clubs to shut up or **** off.

Anyway...we shall see what's really happening in the next few days. I sincerely hope I'm right and you're wrong. But it's a pleasure to have a civil discussion

 

[Frutos]

Perez from Real Madrid claiming that they're doing this because they are "ruined" financially under the current system.

That's the same Real Madrid who are consistently linked with spending £200 million on Haaland or Mbappe this Summer.

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

Yes, I agree with you entirely. All I am suggesting is that it might be best to find a compromise that can work for more people rather than ending up with the currently proposed ESL.

Compromise would be the best way to keep everything as near to what we have now as is possible. However it also merely kicks the can down the road. I would prefer not to compromise. Football finances have been wrecked by elitism and the ESL is actually the logical outcome. The game actually needs to go in the opposite direction.

 

[Napper]

Just seen the Leeds T shirts , looks like a UEFA sanctioned thing. Wonder if we will wear them tonight.

Sits a bit uneasy having the champions league earn it message when they've messed about with the format to favour the very clubs that are breaking away.

 

[A1X]

OK be honest, if today's "Other 14" meeting of the PL was made PPV who would buy in to watch it? I know I would.

 

[beorhthelm]

Perez from Real Madrid claiming that they're doing this because they are "ruined" financially under the current system.

That's the same Real Madrid who are consistently linked with spending £200 million on Haaland or Mbappe this Summer.

doesnt look like a good argument. though if we look from their perspective what irks the spanish clubs in particular is they have very successful brands that they cant benefit from. every reform of european football brings in more money that goes elsewhere. they probably see that as unfair.

 

[Jim in the West]

Perez from Real Madrid claiming that they're doing this because they are "ruined" financially under the current system.

That's the same Real Madrid who are consistently linked with spending £200 million on Haaland or Mbappe this Summer.

Exactly. That's what makes this whole thing so ridiculous. How much are Barca paying Messi? £100m a year!! These clubs want the rest of football to bend over backwards so THEY can spaff yet more millions on players. What a crazy world!

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

OK be honest, if today's "Other 14" meeting of the PL was made PPV who would buy in to watch it? I know I would.

Your bank account has probably already been debited...

 

[blue-shifted]

Question to all those who are saying "let them go and we'll get on with it?"

Are you totally confident that these 6 teams will be permanently expelled?

I don't see it like that

My prediction

ESL will go ahead.

There will be a strong message from the remaining 14, but no sanctions, much less expulsions.

The top 6 will operate with enormous squads. Some of these players will be ESL specialists, not even registered in the PL. They will have to play 2 to 3 games a week and they will stay in the cups, but with 35 players in the squad, (all on £300k+) this won't be a problem.

UEFA, FIFA, and the government will back down. The Glazers etc will have their legal angles well covered. Eventually supporter anger will dim

 

[Postman Pat]

Now I see the Tory government are getting involved I'm pretty confident it is just a game of bluff to get more money.

The tories wouldn't get involved without knowing they can win. This is a vote winner for them.

These clubs will end up with a much bigger slice of the pies . The prem will become less competitive and the Tories can claim some credit.

I disagree I actually think the opposite will happen here - these clubs have gone for the nuclear option of walking away, they have now realised that they have isolated themselves from the rest of Europe and PSG and Bayern, Dortmund haven't gone with them, and any potential 'big' European clubs, Porto etc.. are distancing themselves.

I think they have massively weakened their negotiating position by showing their action is ineffective. UEFA have bent over backwards for these big clubs and it still wasn't enough.

The greedy 12 now seem to have two options - press on regardless with a competition that will whither and die with little interest as and old mans league as Messi, Ronaldo and Zlatan play each other each week.
Or
Row back from here and try to make peace from a much weaker position and have to make concessions.

 

[Glawstergull]

Perez's arguement that "Football" is in peril and due to Covid(Not his clubs overspending on players costs and wages to reach the top) is comical.

 

[Eddiespearritt]

I cannot see how the obvious anger of UEFA would allow them to sanction a Champions League semi-final between Real Madrid and Chelsea next week. If they let it go ahead they already weaken their own position going forward. UEFA has the high ground today, it may evaporate quite quickly.

 

[Captain Sensible]

I hope the 14 PL clubs vote for expelling the 6 teams if they officially leave for the Super league. Promote 6 teams from each division throughout the pyramid. There’s no way they will go into the super league and lose PL status. Also there’s no super league without Ajax, Bayern, Dortmund and others.
This is all about guaranteeing money from UEFA and automatically qualifying for the CL without the risk of losing money. They just want the element of risk gone. It’s all rubbish and won’t go ahead. I just hope UEFA and EPL push back and reduce the bargaining rights of the 12 teams.

 

[Change at Barnham]

If you can detach yourself from the sadness of greed ruining our beautiful game, then this is an incredible moment that we are living through.

Society values are being severely tested, I'm not a Christian but I would guess there must be a story in the bible that is comparable.
The world's greatest mediators are going to struggle to settle this one.
Poor financial management, created by pressure to succeed have placed several of these clubs close to being unable to service their debts. The only chance most have is to double down.
These so called 'elite' clubs have slept walked into the perfect storm and now find themselves naked in public.
The Premier League still needs them, yet it's like your partner has just sh!t in the bed and then announced they are off to shag your best mate.

If anyone can successfully unpick this one and make things better, they can then move to the Middle East and sort out Israel and Iran's little disagreement.
The person I am most concerned for is Tony Bloom who must be feeling totally betrayed.

 

[clapham_gull]

Definitely over-played their hand.

I'd imagine they were expecting the condemnation but not from the majority of their own fans. They've also underestimated "populism" of this current Government. This one has fallen right in the Governments lap.

Let's be fair. It's the owners of Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United. City and Chelsea didn't have much choice and Spurs are just chancers.

 

[Hugo Rune]

I hope the 14 PL clubs vote for expelling the 6 teams if they officially leave for the Super league. Promote 6 teams from each division throughout the pyramid. There’s no way they will go into the super league and lose PL status. Also there’s no super league without Ajax, Bayern, Dortmund and others.
This is all about guaranteeing money from UEFA and automatically qualifying for the CL without the risk of losing money. They just want the element of risk gone. It’s all rubbish and won’t go ahead. I just hope UEFA and EPL push back and reduce the bargaining rights of the 12 teams.

I'd be more than happy to bring in the Old Firm to replace the 'top 6' alongside the top 4 from the Championship. That would put bums on seats in Stadiums.