How would a European Super League change football?
Columnist
By Mike Tuckerman, 27 Oct 2009 Mike Tuckerman is a Roar Expert
Real Madrid's Pepe, center right, vies for the ball with Sporting de Gijon Roberto Canella, center left, during their Spanish La Liga soccer match at El Molinon stadium, in Gijon, Spain, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009. AP Photo/Juan Manuel Serrano
It’s difficult to empathise with one Florentino Pérez. When his team are not losing to a poor Milan side in the UEFA Champions League, the current president of Real Madrid is busily scheming the downfall of those hated separatists from Barcelona.
Pérez is a Wile E. Coyote-type figure on the European scene – constantly conjuring hare-brained schemes that seem destined to fail, but always willing to dust himself off for another go.
After his first spell in charge at Real Madrid between 2000 and 2006 yielded the grand total of two La Liga trophies and one Champions League crown, Pérez departed – admitting that his Galácticos policy had failed to pay dividends, at least on the pitch.
But when the billionaire businessman pitched up at Real again in 2009, you just knew he wouldn’t keep quiet for long.
“We have to agree a new European Super League which guarantees that the best always play the best – something that does not happen in the Champions League,” Pérez told Spanish TV earlier this year.
What he would have made of Barcelona’s recent Champions League defeat to Russian side Rubin Kazan is anyone’s guess.
Fresh from turning La Liga into a boring two-horse race, chances are that Pérez wouldn’t have a bar of Kazan playing in the Champions League.
Instead it’s familiarity that the spotlight-loving ‘presidente’ craves, and apparently he won’t settle until Real are losing to Milan again and again… and again and again.
But if we wanted to watch a predictable title race, we could tune into the English Premier League.
Or La Liga or Serie A. They’re all pretty much the same these days, at least in terms of being dominated by a select few.[
Watching Siena go around against Juventus in Serie A yesterday morning was a demoralising experience.
The tiny club from Tuscany are always going to struggle – the town of Siena lies just fifty kilometres from Florence and the powerful Fiorentina – but the Robur have a stubborn knack for sticking around in the top flight, despite regularly being forced to sell their best players.
Yet, if their football is anything to go by, it’s no wonder the locals never bother to turn out at the piecemeal Stadio Artemio Franchi.
Sitting deep, stacking the defence and desperately attempting to hold their shape, Siena only ventured forward in the most counter-attacking of circumstances.
Sound familiar? They’re the same tactics employed by practically every ‘minnow’ against the big guns in Italy, England and Spain.
Meanwhile, a plodding Juventus only triumphed against their apparently petrified hosts thanks to sheer weight of chances and a late Amauri header.
And when they’re not recording pedestrian domestic wins or stacking their expensively-assembled benches with international talent, the so-called giants of Europe are scheming a way to make the Rubin Kazan’s and Siena’s of the world redundant.
It begs the question: would a European Super League drastically alter the football landscape as we know it?
We’ve already seen the European Cup turned into a quasi-Super League, but if familiarity breeds contempt, it’s hard to see how fans won’t eventually tire of seeing more of the same old teams go around in Europe.
It’s upsets like Rubin Kazan’s defeat of Barcelona last week or Romanian upstart Unirea Urziceni’s thrashing of a diabolical Rangers that enliven the Champions League group stage.
But they’re upsets the likes of Florentino Pérez wish to do away with, as cashed-up oligarchs with scant regard for fans continue to turn the people’s game into their own ego-stroking playground.
With current UEFA supremo Michel Platini at the helm, some of Europe’s lesser lights have still got a sporting chance.
But you can bet that with Florentino Pérez circling around, a European Super League will never be far from the agenda.
Follow Mike on twitter @Mike_Tuckerman
Enjoy sports? Enjoy a bargain? All Sports Online has your favourite sporting brands at up to 70% off. Online only, premium quality sporting goods and merchandise at discounted prices. Get a deal now.
Do you have what it takes to become a sports writer? Write for the roar
Football articles
- Phoenix need more than flash in the pan crowds (133)
- ‘New football’ fans may help save the game in Australia (124)
- Does Tasmania have a case for A-League inclusion? (119)
- What happened in Port Said was not a football riot (118)
- Magilton struggling to make a mark (68)
- Does the A-League need an injection of humour? (44)
- Socceroos screwed over by FIFA, again (41)
- Sydney and Perth eye A-League crunch game
- Melbourne Victory vs Central Coast Mariners: A-League live scores, blog (97)
- Liam Miller: Bargain buy of the A-League season? (9)
- Zambia plays Cup of Nations final in memory of their fallen (7)
- Capello’s resignation ends an awkward marriage (8)
- Does the A-League need an injection of humour? (46)
- Redknapp the best bet to clean up Capello’s England mess (2)
- Melbourne Victory vs Central Coast Mariners: A-League live scores, blog (97)
- Liam Miller: Bargain buy of the A-League season? (9)
- Zambia plays Cup of Nations final in memory of their fallen (7)
- Capello’s resignation ends an awkward marriage (8)
- Redknapp the best bet to clean up Capello’s England mess (2)
- Melbourne derby reveals tale of two journeys (3)
- O’ so close for John: How JON almost landed the biggest job in sport (16)
Freud of Football said | October 27th 2009 @ 6:02am | Report comment
Mike, you raise some interesting points but I think you may have forgotten the one point that matters most.
European football is run by men like Pérez. Rich, successful businessmen looking to apply new “business models” to their clubs, it’s like a hobby for many of them. All of the power rests with them, UEFA know that without these clubs they have no showcase tournament so I think the question should be “How will a European Super League change football?”, it’s an inevitability, not a matter of ifs and buts.
Further regarding Russian football. We mustn’t be so ignorant regarding Russia. I confess that I haven’t see a great deal of their domestic league, a few matches here and there but their quality has drastically improved over the last years and Zenit has shown what Russian teams are capable of. With the kind of money in the league and the relatively lax visa laws for footballers it’s become a haven for some of the best Brazilian talent available. Any Super League would have to afford places to Russia is the long and short of it.
It’s not that long ago that we had the G12/G14/GXX, made up of all the big clubs that met I think twice a year. Basically they made decisions to push things that were for the common good of rich clubs. While this body no longer exists we shouldn’t kid ourselves that we, the fans, have any say in what will happen. Any club in a Super League has enough fans that even if many turn away, stadiums will still be filled but this is modern football.
The best we can hope for is that any transition is smooth and clubs remain a part of their domestic leagues, whether its a Super League or a Champions League is irrelevant in my opinion, domestic football is the be-all and end-all.
Daniel said | October 28th 2009 @ 4:34am | Report comment
There is not as much money in the Russian league as most people seem to think. In fact most Russian clubs had their budgets cut by an average 15 – 20 % and the wages are generally speaking still very low in comparison to England, Italy, Spain, Germany and France. Once the new stadiums are finished things might change for the better, but at the moment the revenues from TV rights, ticket sales and merchandising are very, very low. There is an over-dependence on their club owners and the club owners are reluctant to spend to much of their own money…
Pippinu said | October 27th 2009 @ 7:00am | Report comment
Platini is manfully fighting the oligarchs – but deep down he must know that they will win the day.
Look around the world of professional sport – the dollar wins out every time – the bigger and more bucks involved – the less likely that anyone has time for noble sentiments such as loyalty and love of the game.
And pretty much nothing is bigger than world football – there’s no turning back now.
Such noble, lofty objectives will soon remain the province of small, amateur comps like those run by the GAA and korfball.
AndyRoo said | October 27th 2009 @ 8:48am | Report comment
Did anyone miss Juventis when they were gone?
I don’t think the ECL needs any of the individual clubs, it’s only as a group that UEFA would be worried.
If Man Utd, Liverpool, Chelsea, Barca, Real, Bayern and the Big 4 made a super league that would be great for the A league. Because I am sure seeing those teams play each other every wee would start to lose the appeal.
Meanwhile the ECL witht he left overs of Totenham, Man City and Arsenal vs Wolfsburg, Ajax, Celtic and say Sevilla would still be a fine competition, in gfact the shape up would make it a little more interesting in the group stages.
whiskymac said | October 27th 2009 @ 9:01am | Report comment
is this group a reincarnation of the disbanded g14? if so arsenal are a g14 club i think. ajax are also. as are marseile, anderlecht and a few other smaller clubs (compared to Real etc)
wld be interesting to see how the mega rich clubs of Man City etc would react to exclusion. Chelski certainly have tried their damnest to be included…
AndyRoo said | October 27th 2009 @ 9:09am | Report comment
I knew it was one of the big 4 that weren’t included. Makes sence that it is Chelsea seeing as they would have been around Spurs level when the G14 was formed.
Freud of Football said | October 27th 2009 @ 6:15pm | Report comment
Chelsea were included towards the end of it from memory.
whiskymac said | October 27th 2009 @ 8:54am | Report comment
so if the super league is a foregone what for the rest? i think the game will still do well. there are too many teams/ supporters and history to ignore, and if they organise (ie North Atlantic League etc despite sending like some defunct comic book hero go might do well) they can offer a valid alternative. the championship in England is the 5th largest league in Europe, add superleague rejects like fulham, sunderland, wigan, blackburn etc and it would be even more interesting. the downside being would those left behind get much money to fund their comps? if it was no,then wouldnt they all be in the same boat and essentially the only losers would be the players and luxury car salesmen?
as a thought with europe becoming increasingly a federation maybe there will be a shift and potentially rationalisation in the make up of teams and leagues anyway. just as the north atlantic league is touted, why not a west and east med league,a central league etc. it may be a second tier to the galacticos but it would offer the next best a great alternative
Mr cheese said | October 27th 2009 @ 9:11am | Report comment
Mike Tuckerman says he will watch English football if he wants to watch a predictable title race.
Hey Mike, why don’t you watch Australian football ? Seriously, you may help the sport grow in Aussie if you watch a local team.
I am not sure why you don’t just watch soccerball in Aussie.
Soccerball will grow in Aussie if you watch your teams.
Rugby League will grow over here if people watch their local teams. ( Don’t hold your breath ).
whiskeymac said | October 27th 2009 @ 9:55am | Report comment
mr cheese, as an aside i believe he does watch and report on it, a do a lot of bloggers on this site, but why so defensive over comments on the EPL? it certainly is less predictable than Spain or Germany or France or iTaly even but the premise that the big4 are always there at the end has been true for a very long time now. or does it affront you that someone in Australia has an opinion on a league that is global in its intention and interest? We are all stakeholders in the game – we have players there and pay for the rght to watch games and wear merchandise and see them tour – you need to realise that Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelski etc are not just owned by foreigners and with foreigners in their squads, they have foreign stakeholders to.
what are your views on the main point of the article?
Pippinu said | October 27th 2009 @ 10:05am | Report comment
I thought that the bundesliga had opened up a little in recent years?
Freud of Football said | October 27th 2009 @ 6:23pm | Report comment
Pip, don’t fool yourself into thinking Bayern are any less dominant. They just have a big problem, or 3 of them – Beckenbauer, Hoeneß and Rummenige.
If these 3 idiots would stop shooting the club in the foot they’d clean up year-in – year-out.
Daniel said | October 28th 2009 @ 4:29am | Report comment
The same could be said of Man Utd. If Cr. they hadn`t lost Cr. Ronaldo to Real the title race in the EPL would already be settled. Over the last two decades Utd has been as dominant as Bayern domestically…Now that they have lost quality the title race is wide open, but it is only a question of time until United restores the natural order.
Freud of Football said | October 27th 2009 @ 6:18pm | Report comment
I have to say I think this will be by far the most open title race in the EPL for some time. For mine there is no clear favourite amongst the Big 4, I don’t think Man Utd have that edge they had with Tevez & Ronaldo, Liverpool have no depth, Chelsea won’t be able to cover injuries and suspensions and Arsenal are not experienced enough. I’m not saying Spurs or M City are going to take the title but I wouldn’t at all be surprised in the Big 4 was spread over placed 1-7 in the table.
Mr cheese said | October 27th 2009 @ 10:02am | Report comment
I am not defensive over comments. My point is that some of what Australians ( and others ) say about English ( or German, or French ) football is a little embarrassing.
You talk about “stakeholders”. My argument is that you should watch your own league. Engish RL will not improved if English people watch the NRL. The NRL, as I understand it, is much better than the Super League in England. Rugby League fans over here should watch their own league. To me, that makes sense.
Chelsea is a different case, but Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal are big football clubs. They were big football clubs long before you took an interest. Just as Canterbury Bulldogs is a big RL team ( I think….)
Isn’t this really the “cultural cringe” ? People in Aussie see that the no. 1 sport in Europe is soccerball. Therefore, they prefer soocerball. It’s more to do with the “cringe” than it is to do with sport, surely.
dasilva said | October 27th 2009 @ 11:13am | Report comment
MIke has an entire blog about the A-league here.
http://fourfourtwo.com/blogs/thedirtfromdownunder/default.aspx
eh said | October 27th 2009 @ 11:51am | Report comment
not sure about the logic there
whiskeymac said | October 27th 2009 @ 11:57am | Report comment
the game is not a regional game it is global… the 39th round et al. surely anyone can comment on it – is it a cultural cringe to review hollywood movies also? it would be worse just to accept it w/o critique – that wld be cultural cringe imo.
and Australia’s make up is diverse. many people have supported o/s clubs for a long time. this maybe because their parents did or because they emigrated here. are the disenfranchised from an opinion because they dont live within kms of anfield or st james? UK papers comment on the german, italian and spanish leagues – even the MLS. we can’t because why exactly? we have our own league? so? people who follow the Aleague often also follow a european team.
their views are embarrassing – how so? why are they so bad – are they any worse than those on UK sites? to be honest am not sure anyone cares if we are, because to do so wld be cultural cringe.
Robbos said | October 27th 2009 @ 12:08pm | Report comment
Why are you so angry that people from outside of England follow English teams?
If it wasn’t that big outside of England than Sky sports wouldn’t pay so much to have the game televised worldwide & the English FA would not give the likes of Liverpool the money so that they can afford all their Torres Kuyts & would have to make do with Crouches & Heskeys & struggle to get out of the ACL early rounds.
AndyRoo said | October 27th 2009 @ 12:11pm | Report comment
You can’t steal our babies (young Kewell) and expect us not to watch the EPL.
whiskeymac said | October 27th 2009 @ 1:40pm | Report comment
of course for someone living in Liverpool UK to comment on an ostensibly Australian sports website with an opinion as to what they feel should make up the Aussie sports scene is more acceptable.
whiskeymac said | October 27th 2009 @ 10:34am | Report comment
Pip you are probably right – but Bayern casts a big shadow over the titles won there (altho currently fifth…. http://guardian.touch-line.com/StatsCentre.asp?Lang=0&CTID=12). the dutch comp seems to have thrown up the mo change though recently.
Pippinu said | October 27th 2009 @ 10:58am | Report comment
Also – OL had won the previous six Ligue 1 championships before Girondins came through last season – which is one of the longer runs that I know of.
Lazza said | October 27th 2009 @ 2:40pm | Report comment
My understanding of EU law is that any Super League would be illegal if it didn’t have promotion and relegation. The courts over there would consider it to be a cartel?
dan bozzings said | October 27th 2009 @ 2:50pm | Report comment
i agree wit mr cheeze tuck is a sellout & should go back to the englands
Ando said | October 28th 2009 @ 3:02pm | Report comment
Yeah tuck is an Australian football hater obviously.
Victer said | October 27th 2009 @ 2:56pm | Report comment
What I would like to know is what would happen to other confederations if this was to happen. Take us in asia for example, would we be able to have an asian super league if a precedent is set? Would that mean australian clubs participate in a regional salary capless competition? I think this topic needs its own post haha
Pippinu said | October 27th 2009 @ 3:11pm | Report comment
If we end up following the European pattern of development – either a super league will form, or in place of that, 3 or 4 Asian domestic leagues will become the elite, moneyed comps – attracting the very best talent that is available, and everyone else will look all rather amateurish
Freud of Football said | October 27th 2009 @ 6:25pm | Report comment
Pip, is this not already the case in Asia? I mean honestly, can the Thai league compete with the J-League?
Pippinu said | October 27th 2009 @ 6:27pm | Report comment
Freud – getting there – very, very close.
AndyRoo said | October 27th 2009 @ 3:11pm | Report comment
Some scally wag did that
http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/07/21/ecl-model-not-the-answer-for-asian-football/