At least the advent of the much vaunted (and derided) European Super League has done one good thing.
It has brought the wider football community (and that’s a word and concept the organisers of said behemoth would happily see wiped from the face of the planet) together in mass condemnation of both the concept itself as well as the odious motives of the equally odious people behind it.
When Liverpool fans are praising Gary Neville you know that a genuine love for the game is transcending age old rivalries and inter-city rancour in order to stand together for something a lot more important than any of that.
Sunday’s announcement was, I fear, the very tip of the footballing wedge that is posed to drive itself deep into Europe’s domestic leagues and, in the process, split them irrevocably apart.
The argument that the fans are the people who will lose out the most and that they must, especially those of the clubs involved, unite in protest – as, indeed, many of them already have – is one that, while it is welcome and reassuring for anyone who loves the game, an issue that, for the ESL, is largely meaningless.
Because this is a competition that does not have fans, any fans, in mind. It has not been dragged into existence because of them or for them.
The ESL cares not the proverbial for those who regard Anfield or the Stretford End as their second home, or those Ultras of AC Milan, the Fossa dei Leoni and Bojos of Barcelona.
The ESL caters for consumers, not supporters and for television viewers, not season ticket holders.
Their vision is for millions of nacho-eating sofa dwellers across the new markets of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, China and the United States to plug into their concept and to give both it and whatever corporate sponsors jump aboard the publicity and dollars they need in exchange for their greed.
As far as ESL are concerned, the home-based fans of six English clubs involved can take it or leave it. And if, as some have already promised, opt for the latter, then ESL won’t be too worried, as there will be more than enough people willing to file into the grounds in order to watch the games and provide them with an atmosphere. An audience of consumers rather than an army of fans perhaps, but the colour and spectacle will be there. Job done and box ticked.
Older fans will recall the words of ex-Tottenham boss Keith Burkinshaw who, when he left the club in 1984, famously commented, “There used to be a football club over there”.
A decent man who saw all of this coming. Burkinshaw also observed that, ultimately, some clubs will become so wealthy, that the income from ticket sales will become immaterial and that, purely to provide that colour, atmosphere and spectacle, admittance to football matches will be free of charge.
He may, nearly four decades later, be about to be proved correct.
That’s assuming, of course, the matches are played in the grounds of the clubs that have joined the ESL. The sole reason that Tottenham have been given a golden ticket to the ESL is that they have a billion-pound new stadium that sponsors want to be seen in and associated with (no coincidence, surely, that it doesn’t yet have a sponsor – bet it isn’t long before they announce one now) but how many of their games will actually be played there?
Those new and emerging football markets are going to want some of the action for themselves. Which means that a list of games such as Barcelona vs Real Madrid or AC Milan vs Liverpool will, almost certainly, be scheduled for a 22:00 kick-off in downtown Miami, Doha or Beijing.
But that’s not all. Consider this, consider the domestic leagues in those countries; the history, prestige and glamour of the Chinese Super League or the SPL in Saudi Arabia, and how they might raise the profile of those leagues by importing a franchise from Europe.
You thought Wimbledon being usurped by MK Dons was bad enough? You haven’t seen the worse of it.
Abha Arsenal or Guangzhou Red Devils F.C? Don’t bet against it.
There are very real fears that the launch of ESL will, as has been said by more than one seasoned observer, ‘destroy’ the domestic game in England as we know it. Likewise Spain, Italy and, eventually, Germany and France.
My overriding worry is that the backers of ESL hope that is exactly what their league, ultimately, does. It’s their goal, their bottom line, their ultimate ambition.
They’ll see millions of disenfranchised football fans looking for a new home.
And they’ll welcome them all with open arms.
Ed, you’ve said everything there is to be said about the game slowly being taken away from the fans. I’m raging inside, but in reality we all knew this was the endgame. Football is franchise v franchise, being pitched to a global audience built on the computer generation who would be happy to see ‘their’ club replaced by a playstation game rather than watch a nil nil draw in the rain. OTBC
“The ESL caters for consumers, not supporters and for television viewers, not season ticket holders.”
Oh dear, I thought with COVID 19 attendance restrictions that we’d learned you can watch a game on TV (or online) and be just as much a fan. But alas not, we’re just consumers.
Very well written Ed – together with Robin yesterday you’ve said all there is to say.
Fans from Barrow to Brighton and Forest Green to Fulham will agree – us supporters don’t count and, at most top six clubs we haven’t mattered for years.
PS I had the pleasure of meeting Keith Burkinshaw about 40 years ago, together with Steve Archibald of all people. He seemed like a very good guy indeed.
The famous remark, “Football is nothing without fans” was true prior to the Premier League era and live televised games. Forrest v Liverpool kicked it off in 1992 so it’s taken 30 years and Covid 19 but sadly, consumers is what are required, the sofa, armchair, dining table or bed have taken the place of seats and benches, wind, rain, blinding sunshine or restricted views.
At Norwich we’ve had a fantastic season, enjoyed every minute but virtually none of us have attended. Thankfully our owners and Sporting Director understand and still believe that famous remark. However, today is a bleak day for football.
The Good Book says, “Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income…….
Financial greed & epidemics, and their implications, are key reasons in the destruction of all the great civilisations. It will be interesting to observe as we go forward.
I’m just so contented I support Norwich City F C. but no ESL for me thanks.
The players and Managers are the only ones who can stop this by going on strike – Without them the game is nothing.and any ESL plans will be doomed.
Will these players be brave enough and organised enough to step up to protect the integrity (or what’s left) of the Beautiful Game ? I believe it was player power in the past that was the only thing that stopped the Franchises of the NBA from doing what they wanted.
Interesting: Firstly I would say, I’m against ESL and all it stands for , but this whole debate raises a few difficult questions in my mind :
Define “ Football Fan / Supporter “ . Am I one of this group ? I am 61 , born and brought up in Norwich . My grandad was a fan , dad was at White Hart Lane in 1959 . I moved from Norwich when I was 10 ,to Cumbria and subsequently never lived closer than a 4 hour drive . I’ve never been a Season Ticket holder , I’ve watched Norwich at Carrow Road fewer than 5 times . Away games probably 4 or 5 times a year . If Norwich lose I can’t have a sensible conversation with my wife for the rest of the day . Am I more or less of a fan than a. 12 year old in China who has saved up and bought an Away shirt ( I’ve never bought a shirt).
Who is a consumer who is a fan ?
Gary Neville: Man of the people ? or part of an elite funded my millionaire owners and media barons who set up Premier League .?
The other question:
Why is Govt so engaged with this ? As opposed to : Racism/ Homelessness/ Social Media regulation / Drugs / Child poverty / Climate Change . 🤔
Interesting times
Whilst I agree that the players and managers could play a part in ending this ESL madness driven by greed. I don’t think it is only them.
The players should think twice. I think the first thing that will make those players think twice is the teams with players facing being excluded from the champions league semi’s. Add to this the threat that they maybe excluded from the Euro’s or WC.
If they think social media can be a hostile environment now, watch any that jump on the gravy train close those accounts sharpish when the abuse starts for siding with the money men.
We can as fans play a very real part, the fans of those big 6 even more so.
We all collectively need to say to the people who think this will make money, FU!
Us fans come from a broad spectrum, some may have money invested or connected with JP morgan, withdraw it. Many of us are consumers of Sky sports, BT sports or Amazon. We need to clearly state that if they get on board with this project we will leave on mass (Or at least dump the sports channels). Sponsors will of course queue up to associate with the best of football. If for example Coke Cola decide to jump on board, if the whole of Europe switches to Pepsi maybe they will think twice.
We the fans can go to war with those who would make money from this. There are massive markets in the east, west and everywhere else that the PL already makes billions from, but the domestic market is still so considerable that only a fool could or would ignore its destruction.
Bah!
Sheer greed and over spending is what this is it’s all been started by the premier league and UEFA letting clubs go to the control of big money men and them having complete control instead of letting fans have a stake in there club that would limit what they can do will not be watching it my self as I have not the champions league for years ncfc for me