The dust has long since settled on the latest rumours suggesting that Europe’s top clubs were set to join a new European Super League organised by FIFA, and each time the concept is discussed, it draws an impassioned reaction from fans.
Often as quickly as the speculation is reported by news outlets it is denied by the game’s biggest decision-makers. The latest rumours were emphatically rejected by UEFA, while FIFA also distanced themselves from the concept.
Leadership from within football’s international organisation stated they were more interested in helping clubs from outside of Europe develop, through the promotion of fixtures between continents, rather than pushing for an elite competition for the likes of Real Madrid and Juventus.
FIFA v UEFA
One of the interesting sub-plots to this storyline is the supposed power struggle between UEFA and FIFA. As organisers of the Champions League and European Championship, UEFA holds the balance of power in this part of the world.
However, the World Cup, staged by FIFA, is perhaps football’s largest spectacle and there is a belief in some quarters that the game’s international body is eager to grow its influence at club level and break UEFA’s present monopoly over European sides.
In-fighting of this nature is rarely healthy for a sport and squabbles between the two governing bodies could damage prospects of the concept of a European Super League ever getting out of the planning stage.
? “It violates all principles of sporting merit. It would be a self-proclaimed privileged club.”
Uefa’s vice president has been very critical of a proposed European Super League.
?https://t.co/pHl6BqjDA8#bbcfootball pic.twitter.com/qRvVtiQDmO
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) October 28, 2020
Domestic dominance
One of the big factors to consider in the context of a European Super League is the dominance enjoyed domestically by several European clubs. Paris Saint Germain, Bayern Munich and Juventus have each held a stranglehold over their respective competitions in recent years.
Whether you’re studying the football bets from Space Casino, the form guide from Opta or even just the value of the squads, it’s easy to see that these three clubs have been streets ahead of their nearest rivals. While the Champions League offers another platform for competition, there are fears that a stagnant domestic calendar could damage the future of several clubs. A European Super League with more regular fixtures would, in theory, provide a higher standard of play.
“Like the Superbowl.”
Bayern Munich boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told the club’s TV channel that UEFA is considering holding a so-called “Week Of Football,” that would see the Champions League’s semifinals and final take place in the same city.
Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/V8rfQz2tIc
— DW Sports (@dw_sports) January 13, 2021
Fan influence
Perhaps unsurprisingly, talk of a new European Super League has been met with a negative reaction from the majority of football fans. Competitions like the Premier League are cherished as part of the sport’s culture due to their competitiveness, prestige and integrity.
And although it isn’t certain that a European Super League would see teams quit the competition completely, an increase in international fixtures could result in resources being spared domestically, which could damage the value of domestic leagues.
The balance between the Champions League and the Premier League is already rather delicate, and a change in format or increase in fixtures could have a catastrophic effect on football’s club ecosystem.
It’s clear that we remain some way off seeing a new European Super League get off the ground, and as we can see from the factors discussed above, there remain plenty of issues to resolve if the concept is every to become a reality.