Benjamin Brito, London
Last week football fans rallied against the creation of the European Super League (ESL), resulting in the withdrawal of the top English teams and near collapse of this proposal.
This crumbling can be partly explained by the ESL clubs not presenting a united front. This was evident, when the players who are the key assets were not involved in the decision making. In this sense, the ESL was destined to fail due to lack of communication with fans and not marketing the viability of the competition.
Nevertheless, there are 4 reasons on why the ESL should still go ahead long term, contrary to popular opinion:
- Better quality matches
Fans would be spoilt by seeing the top players compete against each other on a weekly basis. This would make a change to watching games in the group stages of the Champions League, which at times appear one sided or lack excitement till the knockout rounds.
Furthermore, ESL matches would increase the competitive element, in that it would be harder to win the competition. This is not the case in Germany or France, where the respective teams (Bayern Munich and Paris St Germain) have won their domestic leagues over the last 5 consecutive seasons.
Although Football is primarily a sport, it is also a business which needs to maximise its turnover, just like any other industry. This has proven to be difficult in the current climate with the substantial drop in matchday revenue, owing to the pandemic.
By creating the ESL – this allows clubs to generate greater income by negotiating their own tv rights, merchandise and sponsorship deals. This would allow clubs to buy the best players, as well as improve facilities and stadiums. This in turn will enhance the fan experience and provide a “superbowl-like” spectacle.
The ESL would allow clubs to wrestle back control from FIFA and UEFA, in that clubs would have a greater autonomy in running a competition, which is congruent to the players and team demands.
This could involve the introduction of more substitutes, potential timeouts as well investing in better video technology, which would assist with decision making in a more efficient and timely manner.
Subsequently, players would be more likely to buy into this competition, as it would show their concerns are being addressed, rather than being treated like pawns.
- Tackle important issues
One of the criticisms of the ESL is it is elitist and is not based on merit. To overcome this, the ESL could get fans on its side by tackling the most important issues in the game.
This could involve the following:
- Allocating funds to grassroot and lower league teams
- Championing local causes
- Further investment in the women’s game and promoting equality
- Affordable ticket prices with special family discounts
- Eradicating racism by imposing point deductions and expulsions.
By acknowledging these issues, it would show that the ESL are not mercenaries but actually care about all aspects of the game.
Conclusion
It is human instinct to reject change and stick to tradition. Back in 1992, when the English Premier League (EPL) broke away from the Football League, there was a fear that the fabric of the game would be undermined. However, nearly 30 years later- the EPL is excelling with its brand of football and one of the richest in the world.
Similarly, in cricket – the IPL has proven to be a resounding success, by raising the profile of the game, in reaching wider global audiences. This can be attributed to having the best international players on one stage. This together with the sponsorships deals and celebrity backing has provided substantial revenues for the game and players.
For the ESL to succeed, the owners need to build trust with the public, by stressing that the domestic leagues won’t be side lined (rather like test match cricket) and that football is not taking a backward step. By doing so – the ESL could replicate the IPL on a bigger stage and thus herald a new era for the ‘beautiful game’.
