I just hope that we try to see an end to these clubs controlling the rest of Football with either outcome.
(1) They admit their mistake and come back yet have no priority say over how competitions are ran (2) They go ahead with this Super League, and are never allowed to return
Shearer saying this morning that the Premier League should act straight away and kick the clubs out and take on the legal fight. I wonder if this happened how many of their players might have release causes in their contracts, such as relegation or not qualifying for Europe and could walk away on free transfers and sign for real clubs not in the Super Greed League
What other clubs not in the super league could afford their salaries?
They can't all sign for PSG and Bayern.
A few clubs not having to pay a transfer fee could offer decent deals
How?
If the big 6 were kicked out of the league, the Sky/BT tv deal would collapse and clubs would be struggling to pay their existing wage bill. They'd no longer be getting 100m+ a season, they'd be getting about 10m (i might be exaggerating but a new deal would be much much less).
The tv deal only exists because of the big 6. People might say 'good riddance, let them go', but without them the premier league is fucked and would be for years until clubs recovered. If people think clubs were financially damaged by no fans because of covid, imagine the fall out if the tv deal collapses.
And this is part of the dilemma in how to stop this thing happening. The EPL will hope they don't have to kick these teams out of the league because it hurts the income the receive from TV and sponsorship, if these teams aren't there as much as we don't like it the fact is the money is paid because of these teams and the players they have. UEFA won't want to ban the clubs or players from their competitions as it impacts their revenue from TV and sponsorship. FIFA won't want to ban players from the world cup because it impacts their revenue. Noticing a theme?
What is then left? Governments? Last thing they'll want to do is get involved with lengthy, expensive legal wrangling with these clubs who will also argue that it isn't the place for governments to be getting involved.
This is the big issue now, it's all well and good these organisations and individuals giving statements and nice soundbites but who is actually going to step up and do something about it? I'm encouraged by the near universal condemnation from fans of all clubs but these owners have shown they do not care what the real fans think. Football is a mess and even if this does get stopped now are we just kicking the can down the road?
What is left is Prince William’s Football Association, the guardians of the sport as a sport, the body that sorts officials and rules. They can disqualify the six teams with virtually no financial downside. The other organisations are less important than the FA in this matter.
There will be some big differences between some of the CEOs of the Big Six and their Managers - although, in the case of one or two, there was already a chasm the size of the Great Rift Valley - not least because most of these Coaches weren't even made aware of the announcement. Whether that can be repaired is another thing - could we see, for example, Klopp resign?
Shearer saying this morning that the Premier League should act straight away and kick the clubs out and take on the legal fight. I wonder if this happened how many of their players might have release causes in their contracts, such as relegation or not qualifying for Europe and could walk away on free transfers and sign for real clubs not in the Super Greed League
What other clubs not in the super league could afford their salaries?
They can't all sign for PSG and Bayern.
A few clubs not having to pay a transfer fee could offer decent deals
How?
If the big 6 were kicked out of the league, the Sky/BT tv deal would collapse and clubs would be struggling to pay their existing wage bill. They'd no longer be getting 100m+ a season, they'd be getting about 10m (i might be exaggerating but a new deal would be much much less).
The tv deal only exists because of the big 6. People might say 'good riddance, let them go', but without them the premier league is fucked and would be for years until clubs recovered. If people think clubs were financially damaged by no fans because of covid, imagine the fall out if the tv deal collapses.
And this is part of the dilemma in how to stop this thing happening. The EPL will hope they don't have to kick these teams out of the league because it hurts the income the receive from TV and sponsorship, if these teams aren't there as much as we don't like it the fact is the money is paid because of these teams and the players they have. UEFA won't want to ban the clubs or players from their competitions as it impacts their revenue from TV and sponsorship. FIFA won't want to ban players from the world cup because it impacts their revenue. Noticing a theme?
What is then left? Governments? Last thing they'll want to do is get involved with lengthy, expensive legal wrangling with these clubs who will also argue that it isn't the place for governments to be getting involved.
This is the big issue now, it's all well and good these organisations and individuals giving statements and nice soundbites but who is actually going to step up and do something about it? I'm encouraged by the near universal condemnation from fans of all clubs but these owners have shown they do not care what the real fans think. Football is a mess and even if this does get stopped now are we just kicking the can down the road?
What is left is Prince William’s Football Association, the guardians of the sport as a sport, the body that sorts officials and rules. They can disqualify the six teams with virtually no financial downside. The other organisations are less important than the FA in this matter.
Shearer saying this morning that the Premier League should act straight away and kick the clubs out and take on the legal fight. I wonder if this happened how many of their players might have release causes in their contracts, such as relegation or not qualifying for Europe and could walk away on free transfers and sign for real clubs not in the Super Greed League
What other clubs not in the super league could afford their salaries?
They can't all sign for PSG and Bayern.
A few clubs not having to pay a transfer fee could offer decent deals
How?
If the big 6 were kicked out of the league, the Sky/BT tv deal would collapse and clubs would be struggling to pay their existing wage bill. They'd no longer be getting 100m+ a season, they'd be getting about 10m (i might be exaggerating but a new deal would be much much less).
The tv deal only exists because of the big 6. People might say 'good riddance, let them go', but without them the premier league is fucked and would be for years until clubs recovered. If people think clubs were financially damaged by no fans because of covid, imagine the fall out if the tv deal collapses.
And this is part of the dilemma in how to stop this thing happening. The EPL will hope they don't have to kick these teams out of the league because it hurts the income the receive from TV and sponsorship, if these teams aren't there as much as we don't like it the fact is the money is paid because of these teams and the players they have. UEFA won't want to ban the clubs or players from their competitions as it impacts their revenue from TV and sponsorship. FIFA won't want to ban players from the world cup because it impacts their revenue. Noticing a theme?
What is then left? Governments? Last thing they'll want to do is get involved with lengthy, expensive legal wrangling with these clubs who will also argue that it isn't the place for governments to be getting involved.
This is the big issue now, it's all well and good these organisations and individuals giving statements and nice soundbites but who is actually going to step up and do something about it? I'm encouraged by the near universal condemnation from fans of all clubs but these owners have shown they do not care what the real fans think. Football is a mess and even if this does get stopped now are we just kicking the can down the road?
What is left is Prince William’s Football Association, the guardians of the sport as a sport, the body that sorts officials and rules. They can disqualify the six teams with virtually no financial downside. The other organisations are less important than the FA in this matter.
Shearer saying this morning that the Premier League should act straight away and kick the clubs out and take on the legal fight. I wonder if this happened how many of their players might have release causes in their contracts, such as relegation or not qualifying for Europe and could walk away on free transfers and sign for real clubs not in the Super Greed League
What other clubs not in the super league could afford their salaries?
They can't all sign for PSG and Bayern.
A few clubs not having to pay a transfer fee could offer decent deals
How?
If the big 6 were kicked out of the league, the Sky/BT tv deal would collapse and clubs would be struggling to pay their existing wage bill. They'd no longer be getting 100m+ a season, they'd be getting about 10m (i might be exaggerating but a new deal would be much much less).
The tv deal only exists because of the big 6. People might say 'good riddance, let them go', but without them the premier league is fucked and would be for years until clubs recovered. If people think clubs were financially damaged by no fans because of covid, imagine the fall out if the tv deal collapses.
And this is part of the dilemma in how to stop this thing happening. The EPL will hope they don't have to kick these teams out of the league because it hurts the income the receive from TV and sponsorship, if these teams aren't there as much as we don't like it the fact is the money is paid because of these teams and the players they have. UEFA won't want to ban the clubs or players from their competitions as it impacts their revenue from TV and sponsorship. FIFA won't want to ban players from the world cup because it impacts their revenue. Noticing a theme?
What is then left? Governments? Last thing they'll want to do is get involved with lengthy, expensive legal wrangling with these clubs who will also argue that it isn't the place for governments to be getting involved.
This is the big issue now, it's all well and good these organisations and individuals giving statements and nice soundbites but who is actually going to step up and do something about it? I'm encouraged by the near universal condemnation from fans of all clubs but these owners have shown they do not care what the real fans think. Football is a mess and even if this does get stopped now are we just kicking the can down the road?
What is left is Prince William’s Football Association, the guardians of the sport as a sport, the body that sorts officials and rules. They can disqualify the six teams with virtually no financial downside. The other organisations are less important than the FA in this matter.
Can they?
Yes I believe they can. If there is a financial conduit from clubs to the Football Association it will be equal for each club according to their status, and not a huge fee either. Arsenal do no pay more money in to register than Burnley.
12 clubs saying we're better than you and deserve more of the cake, and UEFA, FIFA, the FA, the EFL, the LMA, the PFA (all corrupt and not fit for purpose) gnashing their teeth in faux outrage.
Amidst this turmoil in the major European leagues, particularly the English, is this an opportunity for Rangers and Celtic to finally join a league commensurate with their world wide support? How are the boards of these two clubs viewing the current developments?
They can clamber up from the Combined Counties league or wherever and earn their status on the football field.
I understand how Spurs have wracked up that debt and, in their wonderful new stadium, they have an asset to show for it which will help to pay it down. But how the feck have United gotten themselves into such a huge black hole? Their stadium (according to GNev) hasn’t had decent investment in some time and their has been precious little success on the pitch. Given how high their revenues must be to be in that sort of debt is crazy.
Didn't the owners pile the cost of buying the club on to the club as debt? So it actually cost them, well, nothing?
yes, this. It was truly bizarre and example of how its one rule for the mega rich and one for the rest of us. No one else would ever have access to something mental like a billion £ credit to purchase a multi million £ profit making business.
Shearer saying this morning that the Premier League should act straight away and kick the clubs out and take on the legal fight. I wonder if this happened how many of their players might have release causes in their contracts, such as relegation or not qualifying for Europe and could walk away on free transfers and sign for real clubs not in the Super Greed League
What other clubs not in the super league could afford their salaries?
They can't all sign for PSG and Bayern.
A few clubs not having to pay a transfer fee could offer decent deals
How?
If the big 6 were kicked out of the league, the Sky/BT tv deal would collapse and clubs would be struggling to pay their existing wage bill. They'd no longer be getting 100m+ a season, they'd be getting about 10m (i might be exaggerating but a new deal would be much much less).
The tv deal only exists because of the big 6. People might say 'good riddance, let them go', but without them the premier league is fucked and would be for years until clubs recovered. If people think clubs were financially damaged by no fans because of covid, imagine the fall out if the tv deal collapses.
And this is part of the dilemma in how to stop this thing happening. The EPL will hope they don't have to kick these teams out of the league because it hurts the income the receive from TV and sponsorship, if these teams aren't there as much as we don't like it the fact is the money is paid because of these teams and the players they have. UEFA won't want to ban the clubs or players from their competitions as it impacts their revenue from TV and sponsorship. FIFA won't want to ban players from the world cup because it impacts their revenue. Noticing a theme?
What is then left? Governments? Last thing they'll want to do is get involved with lengthy, expensive legal wrangling with these clubs who will also argue that it isn't the place for governments to be getting involved.
This is the big issue now, it's all well and good these organisations and individuals giving statements and nice soundbites but who is actually going to step up and do something about it? I'm encouraged by the near universal condemnation from fans of all clubs but these owners have shown they do not care what the real fans think. Football is a mess and even if this does get stopped now are we just kicking the can down the road?
What is left is Prince William’s Football Association, the guardians of the sport as a sport, the body that sorts officials and rules. They can disqualify the six teams with virtually no financial downside. The other organisations are less important than the FA in this matter.
Can they?
Yes I believe they can. If there is a financial conduit from clubs to the Football Association it will be equal for each club according to their status, and not a huge fee either. Arsenal do no pay more money in to register than Burnley.
Yeah but what about the FA Cup, for example?
If the FA didn't want/need them in that they would have stopped playing in it by now.
Elitism at it's best. Finally football at the highest level (questionably) becomes a closed shop, only open to the best and not for the likes of us. I was asked, as a supporter of a lower league club, what it meant to me and you'd be forgiven for thinking that from our current position, why do we care? But, leaving aside the financial implications mentioned above, purely as a fan, previously we could dream of playing at the highest level, against the top domestic clubs and even possibly the top European clubs. If this goes ahead, we can never join that exclusive club, our ambitions are cut out from under us.
I've always hated the way SKY covered football and the whole concept that there are only a few clubs (currently 6, it seems) that are of any interest or import. The idea that, just because it's Man City Vs Liverpool it will be a huge, not to be missed, spectacle doesn't cut it for me. And another thing, IMHO too much time is spent on building up the managers into almost celebrity status. When I was growing up I had little idea who the manager was, but I had a very good idea who the strikers were (and goalie - always fancied myself as a goalie).
Shearer saying this morning that the Premier League should act straight away and kick the clubs out and take on the legal fight. I wonder if this happened how many of their players might have release causes in their contracts, such as relegation or not qualifying for Europe and could walk away on free transfers and sign for real clubs not in the Super Greed League
What other clubs not in the super league could afford their salaries?
They can't all sign for PSG and Bayern.
A few clubs not having to pay a transfer fee could offer decent deals
How?
If the big 6 were kicked out of the league, the Sky/BT tv deal would collapse and clubs would be struggling to pay their existing wage bill. They'd no longer be getting 100m+ a season, they'd be getting about 10m (i might be exaggerating but a new deal would be much much less).
The tv deal only exists because of the big 6. People might say 'good riddance, let them go', but without them the premier league is fucked and would be for years until clubs recovered. If people think clubs were financially damaged by no fans because of covid, imagine the fall out if the tv deal collapses.
And this is part of the dilemma in how to stop this thing happening. The EPL will hope they don't have to kick these teams out of the league because it hurts the income the receive from TV and sponsorship, if these teams aren't there as much as we don't like it the fact is the money is paid because of these teams and the players they have. UEFA won't want to ban the clubs or players from their competitions as it impacts their revenue from TV and sponsorship. FIFA won't want to ban players from the world cup because it impacts their revenue. Noticing a theme?
What is then left? Governments? Last thing they'll want to do is get involved with lengthy, expensive legal wrangling with these clubs who will also argue that it isn't the place for governments to be getting involved.
This is the big issue now, it's all well and good these organisations and individuals giving statements and nice soundbites but who is actually going to step up and do something about it? I'm encouraged by the near universal condemnation from fans of all clubs but these owners have shown they do not care what the real fans think. Football is a mess and even if this does get stopped now are we just kicking the can down the road?
What is left is Prince William’s Football Association, the guardians of the sport as a sport, the body that sorts officials and rules. They can disqualify the six teams with virtually no financial downside. The other organisations are less important than the FA in this matter.
Can they?
Yes I believe they can. If there is a financial conduit from clubs to the Football Association it will be equal for each club according to their status, and not a huge fee either. Arsenal do no pay more money in to register than Burnley.
Yeah but what about the FA Cup, for example?
If the FA didn't want/need them in that they would have stopped playing in it by now.
I believe one of the rules of association is agreeing to play in the FA Cup. The six clubs request that of the FA not the other way round. Nothing to do with either want or need.
Amidst this turmoil in the major European leagues, particularly the English, is this an opportunity for Rangers and Celtic to finally join a league commensurate with their world wide support? How are the boards of these two clubs viewing the current developments?
If they have any sense they'll be saying to the EPL "throw out the big 6, only Man Utd and Liverpool are real draws and we're as big as they are worldwide, so just replace them with us"
If it goes through, in this format, football in this country will die, all the rich owners of every club bar the 6 big brands will leave.
The scum 6 are pointing a gun at the head of English, Spanish and Italian football and demanding more money, that's the reality, they want to cash in without restrictions and they have US owners who love the franchise model as the jeopardy is removed.
So where are we, well if it goes ahead as is the English, Spanish and Italian league will become feeder clubs, non entities, if they even survive, with no money and anyone who is remotely good at football will be owned by the 6.
They are killing 10 million English fans to gain full access to the finances of 3 billion fans.
So they may be a deal to be done, to remove the "closed shop" but in truth, I think the future of football will permanently changed and as long as this non-relegation thing sods off, then a European league is ok, in my book it's the lack of meritocracy.
I'm down with seeing Real Madrid absolutely cock it up and get relegated out of a super league, it's the underdog that we love and want, the US hate it.
it could be cool, but without a meritocracy or basic fairness, the entire pyramid becomes irrelevant.
If this goes through football will Not die. It will just have to be reset. And the one thing that will have to be reset is players' wages.
Bit unfair to pick on our own Jason Pearce but if what we read on here is correct he's on about £5000 a week. A quarter of a million per year for a player in the third tier of English football. Madness. If footballs new finances only allow him to be paid £1000 a week, so be it.
Football will continue. It will just be being played under new conditions.
The biggest single issue in football now is there's too much money involved in it, the stakes are too high and everyone is in financial ruin trying to gamble on making it to the top table with the big boys who themselves are in financial ruin by trying to play keep up or catch up with one another. This, to me, is the perfect time to be bold, cut off the top teams and leave them free to fuck themselves over and not take the rest of football with it, and alongside that bring major reform to the game at a global level, whether that's spending limits, salary caps, standardised wages, a more even distribution of prize money or a combination of different things, so be it.
And if ManUre, Arseholes, Man Shitty, Liverpoo, Chelski and the Spuds are the casualties for it, it's a small price to pay, but I'd rather see them go to the wall than teams like us, Accrington, Hartlepool, Blackpool, Wigan etc
I understand how Spurs have wracked up that debt and, in their wonderful new stadium, they have an asset to show for it which will help to pay it down. But how the feck have United gotten themselves into such a huge black hole? Their stadium (according to GNev) hasn’t had decent investment in some time and their has been precious little success on the pitch. Given how high their revenues must be to be in that sort of debt is crazy.
"The debt taken on by the Glazers to finance the takeover was split between the club and the family; between £265 million and £275 million was secured against Manchester United's assets, putting the club into debt for the first time since James Gibson saved them in 1931.
This loan was provided by three New York hedge funds. The total amount was £660 million, on which interest payments came to £62 million a year."
It feels like this is what the Glazers and others wanted to do the moment they signed up to English football They held off because the time was never the right to broach it But they are desperate to get it over the line and have gone for it because they really can't wait any longer. Shit or bust. It looks like bust with any luck.
Quite where that leaves the big six when these no mark financial mercenaries f*** off because they couldn't get their own way, who knows?
What an absolute PR disaster for all of the clubs involved!
Imagine having the stupidity to announce this in the middle of a ******** pandemic? How dumb do you have to be exactly to do that?
No surprise of course that it's the American billionaire class - psychopaths to a man - that are behind this plan as owners of four of the six English clubs involved, with the other two backed of course by Russian and Emirati oil money.
It was inevitable in the end that insatiable greed would mean that football would end up eating itself and that is exactly what has happened.
Who in their right mind could look at the current landscape for big clubs like Man Utd - about to offer Paul Pogba 500K PER WEEK - and say, "You know what, I think these guys actually need more money!"
What an absolute joke of the highest order and they will get their arses well and truly burned for this.
Ironically of course they have just severely devalued the Premier League because BT and Sky are going to say at the next rights bidding, "Your top six teams don't even want to be in the league anymore and might leave anytime so you are not worth what you were four years ago."
For one thing, News Corp. - the biggest proponent and backer of the Premier League - will be incandescent with rage about what these clubs have done because it completely jeopardizes their business model and they will not stand for that.
Now, there's one place in British life you don't want to be and that's in the firing line of The Sun, The Times etc - these people are absolutely ruthless in defending their interests and they will be digging up every bit of shit they can on these clubs and their owners.
Remember, of course, that News Corp. owns Boris Johnson lock, stock and barrel and he is going to play the 'Flag of St George' nationalist card on this one and pit the country against 'greedy foreign owners attacking our game' - it's like shooting fish in a barrel for him.
A complete debacle.
Are spurs American owned? Thought it was Joe Lewis?
They are and you are correct - Joe Lewis is the owner and Levy is the face and makes most of the decisions
Joe Lewis is an 84 year old who was born in Bow, London. I'm not aware that he had changed his nationality even if he lives some where warmer.
Can't find the tweet, but read that the ESL president has said that the younger generation can't focus on 90 minute matches, so maybe games need to be shortened...
Incoming quarters with ad breaks, just like the NFL.
What an absolute PR disaster for all of the clubs involved!
Imagine having the stupidity to announce this in the middle of a ******** pandemic? How dumb do you have to be exactly to do that?
No surprise of course that it's the American billionaire class - psychopaths to a man - that are behind this plan as owners of four of the six English clubs involved, with the other two backed of course by Russian and Emirati oil money.
It was inevitable in the end that insatiable greed would mean that football would end up eating itself and that is exactly what has happened.
Who in their right mind could look at the current landscape for big clubs like Man Utd - about to offer Paul Pogba 500K PER WEEK - and say, "You know what, I think these guys actually need more money!"
What an absolute joke of the highest order and they will get their arses well and truly burned for this.
Ironically of course they have just severely devalued the Premier League because BT and Sky are going to say at the next rights bidding, "Your top six teams don't even want to be in the league anymore and might leave anytime so you are not worth what you were four years ago."
For one thing, News Corp. - the biggest proponent and backer of the Premier League - will be incandescent with rage about what these clubs have done because it completely jeopardizes their business model and they will not stand for that.
Now, there's one place in British life you don't want to be and that's in the firing line of The Sun, The Times etc - these people are absolutely ruthless in defending their interests and they will be digging up every bit of shit they can on these clubs and their owners.
Remember, of course, that News Corp. owns Boris Johnson lock, stock and barrel and he is going to play the 'Flag of St George' nationalist card on this one and pit the country against 'greedy foreign owners attacking our game' - it's like shooting fish in a barrel for him.
A complete debacle.
Are spurs American owned? Thought it was Joe Lewis?
They are and you are correct - Joe Lewis is the owner and Levy is the face and makes most of the decisions
Joe Lewis is an 84 year old who was born in Bow, London. I'm not aware that he had changed his nationality even if he lives some where warmer.
Shearer saying this morning that the Premier League should act straight away and kick the clubs out and take on the legal fight. I wonder if this happened how many of their players might have release causes in their contracts, such as relegation or not qualifying for Europe and could walk away on free transfers and sign for real clubs not in the Super Greed League
What other clubs not in the super league could afford their salaries?
They can't all sign for PSG and Bayern.
A few clubs not having to pay a transfer fee could offer decent deals
How?
If the big 6 were kicked out of the league, the Sky/BT tv deal would collapse and clubs would be struggling to pay their existing wage bill. They'd no longer be getting 100m+ a season, they'd be getting about 10m (i might be exaggerating but a new deal would be much much less).
The tv deal only exists because of the big 6. People might say 'good riddance, let them go', but without them the premier league is fucked and would be for years until clubs recovered. If people think clubs were financially damaged by no fans because of covid, imagine the fall out if the tv deal collapses.
And this is part of the dilemma in how to stop this thing happening. The EPL will hope they don't have to kick these teams out of the league because it hurts the income the receive from TV and sponsorship, if these teams aren't there as much as we don't like it the fact is the money is paid because of these teams and the players they have. UEFA won't want to ban the clubs or players from their competitions as it impacts their revenue from TV and sponsorship. FIFA won't want to ban players from the world cup because it impacts their revenue. Noticing a theme?
What is then left? Governments? Last thing they'll want to do is get involved with lengthy, expensive legal wrangling with these clubs who will also argue that it isn't the place for governments to be getting involved.
This is the big issue now, it's all well and good these organisations and individuals giving statements and nice soundbites but who is actually going to step up and do something about it? I'm encouraged by the near universal condemnation from fans of all clubs but these owners have shown they do not care what the real fans think. Football is a mess and even if this does get stopped now are we just kicking the can down the road?
What is left is Prince William’s Football Association, the guardians of the sport as a sport, the body that sorts officials and rules. They can disqualify the six teams with virtually no financial downside. The other organisations are less important than the FA in this matter.
Can they?
Yes I believe they can. If there is a financial conduit from clubs to the Football Association it will be equal for each club according to their status, and not a huge fee either. Arsenal do no pay more money in to register than Burnley.
Yeah but what about the FA Cup, for example?
If the FA didn't want/need them in that they would have stopped playing in it by now.
I believe one of the rules of association is agreeing to play in the FA Cup. The six clubs request that of the FA not the other way round. Nothing to do with either want or need.
Well it is. The clubs have ask multiple times to not be in it, for different reasons. The the FA didn't want or need them in it they would have said OK.
Even if that wasn't true, and we will agree to differ, the FA aren't going to pull the cards down on the whole thing. That's not protecting anything.
If the 6 could leave with no implications they would be long gone already. They would have been kicked out after big picture, or the time before that, or the time before that.
They hold most of the aces, they know that and so does everyone else. They wouldn't be doing this if they didn't.
Won't happen. I'll keep saying it until the concept is dead. It's a massive smokescreen for them to try and get more money. I'd love it if they got told to fuck off, but sadly the whole gravy train needs them to continue kicking the can further down the road every few years. There will be a load more whinging, then UEFA and the turd 12 will announce they have 'come to an agreement' that sees them get an even bigger share of the money through broadcast rights.
How easy would it be for players and staff to argue their contracts would be void if this happens. I think, maybe naively, that for top players a place in the World Cup or euros might outrank being in the ESL.
I don't think Fifa would actually stop players playing at the world cup, it would be a farce if they did.
Can someone play in any FA/UEFA/FIFA, et al, tournament without being fully registered as a player?
Unless the authorities collapse in the face of even more greed than they have shown to date, the ESL has to be an external competition, unrecognised and unregistered, with those involved expelled from the national leagues.
FIFA cannot afford to not stop ineligible players from playing in its competitions.
I don't think it will officially effect the euros, although some FAs may choose not to select players. Being honest it won't make much difference if they did. After the last 18 months some international football with crowds, pubs open etc will be a massive thing across Europe.
But the next world cup? Its going to be a hard enough sell in the traditional markets as it is. If they totally blackball all the players, what's to stop them running a parallel tournament with the star players?
What about sponsors? It's normally the same five or six big names, Heineken, Coke, Mcdonalds, Mastercard etc what if they sponsor the ESL or any of the clubs?
I can see an issue with sponsors being more of a concern than players tbh.
But, I honestly believe that, if the breakaway happens, there cannot be anything other than a complete boycott by football organisations and all footballing structures of the breakaway.
Anyway, I think if it came to it, the majority of TV viewers will watch the World Cup, come what may, there may be more schoolchildren in the grounds, but that is not a bad thing.
There's nothing to stop the wEaSeL teams putting together their own competing tournament (but, think about it, it will be the same old same old as their wEaSeL league, it'd be a series of meaningless games without any tradition, history or class), I'd still be happier watching the World Cup.
UEFA might like to consider telling the 12 clubs that the first few to give up on this idea can come back with no repercussions and no questions asked, but those who don't try to come back until it actually collapses will have to apply to start again from the bottom of the pile. Give them something to think about.
Comments
They can disqualify the six teams with virtually no financial downside.
The other organisations are less important than the FA in this matter.
Arsenal do no pay more money in to register than Burnley.
12 clubs saying we're better than you and deserve more of the cake, and UEFA, FIFA, the FA, the EFL, the LMA, the PFA (all corrupt and not fit for purpose) gnashing their teeth in faux outrage.
If the FA didn't want/need them in that they would have stopped playing in it by now.
I've always hated the way SKY covered football and the whole concept that there are only a few clubs (currently 6, it seems) that are of any interest or import. The idea that, just because it's Man City Vs Liverpool it will be a huge, not to be missed, spectacle doesn't cut it for me. And another thing, IMHO too much time is spent on building up the managers into almost celebrity status. When I was growing up I had little idea who the manager was, but I had a very good idea who the strikers were (and goalie - always fancied myself as a goalie).
This league will not save them it will make the debt bigger as the business model is broken and they have failed to act
Nothing to do with either want or need.
Bit unfair to pick on our own Jason Pearce but if what we read on here is correct he's on about £5000 a week. A quarter of a million per year for a player in the third tier of English football. Madness. If footballs new finances only allow him to be paid £1000 a week, so be it.
Football will continue. It will just be being played under new conditions.
And if ManUre, Arseholes, Man Shitty, Liverpoo, Chelski and the Spuds are the casualties for it, it's a small price to pay, but I'd rather see them go to the wall than teams like us, Accrington, Hartlepool, Blackpool, Wigan etc
This loan was provided by three New York hedge funds. The total amount was £660 million, on which interest payments came to £62 million a year."
They held off because the time was never the right to broach it
But they are desperate to get it over the line and have gone for it because they really can't wait any longer.
Shit or bust. It looks like bust with any luck.
Quite where that leaves the big six when these no mark financial mercenaries f*** off because they couldn't get their own way, who knows?
Joe Lewis is an 84 year old who was born in Bow, London. I'm not aware that he had changed his nationality even if he lives some where warmer.
Incoming quarters with ad breaks, just like the NFL.
Even if that wasn't true, and we will agree to differ, the FA aren't going to pull the cards down on the whole thing. That's not protecting anything.
If the 6 could leave with no implications they would be long gone already. They would have been kicked out after big picture, or the time before that, or the time before that.
They hold most of the aces, they know that and so does everyone else. They wouldn't be doing this if they didn't.
But, I honestly believe that, if the breakaway happens, there cannot be anything other than a complete boycott by football organisations and all footballing structures of the breakaway.
Anyway, I think if it came to it, the majority of TV viewers will watch the World Cup, come what may, there may be more schoolchildren in the grounds, but that is not a bad thing.
There's nothing to stop the wEaSeL teams putting together their own competing tournament (but, think about it, it will be the same old same old as their wEaSeL league, it'd be a series of meaningless games without any tradition, history or class), I'd still be happier watching the World Cup.