The End of Football?

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 Simon B

I'm sure you saw this title and are a bit confused. How can football end? It's one of the oldest sports in history and it's the most widely played sport in the world. But over the last decade or so there's been a pattern in European football that has really put the fan's interest second.

There are so many different competitions but it's always the same teams winning. Each country has its own domestic league of about 30 teams or so but it's as if there are 2 or 3 teams that can compete at the highest level and everyone else is left found for themselves because they don't have enough money to bring in top players and get better. 

This is proof that in football, money is king no matter what. 

Right Now, It's Not Enough

The most prestigious award in European football is the Champions League trophy. Top teams in each domestic league get to participate but since it's the same teams who are always winning the domestic leagues, it's always the same competition. However, the Champions League is a really fun competition to watch because it's always best on best, and winning means a lot to a team, the city it's in, and most importantly, their fans. But owners and sponsors are starting to realize that they aren't making enough money to sustain their clubs anymore. A clear example of this is FC Barcelona, who are always in contention for their domestic league (Spain's La Liga) and the Champions League. But lately, they've gone almost bankrupt and their club isn't paying salaries on time. 

To all the rich teams, there isn't enough financial gain in winning the UCL or their domestic league so they started to look into other options. But are these options what's best for the sport or just for money?

Super League, It's Nonsense

Over the last few days, team owners from Italy, Spain England, and France have all shown interest in creating a "Super League" that would only have "top teams". This is the worst thing possible for the sport.

Teams like Liverpool FC or Manchester United who were teams that were built by the working middle class have been taken over by the rich and are now wanting to leave their leagues to join another one where they can't be relegated. It baffles me to see team owners put financial gain ahead of the good of the game and the interest of the fans. It just doesn't seem fair. 

The idea behind this league is to have more best-on-best matchups but if they happen every week, they aren't as special anymore. The beauty of an El Classico or a North London Derby is that they only happen a few times a year so they have a lot of importance and they generate a lot more interest. 

And if you look at things from the less rich team's perspective, they won't have the opportunity to upset big clubs anymore. Fans and players alike won't have the thrill of seeing their smaller club go to Madrid or Paris and shock their league by winning. And on top of that, the Champions League will no longer have the same feel to it. There will no longer be the fight at the top between the best teams to try and get that elusive UCL spot.

Consequences

The majority of the football world is against the creation of this league, and rightly so. The chairman of UEFA stated that any club that shows interest in joining this league may be banned from this year's Champions League and the one in years to come. This means that the big clubs will no longer be allowed to compete for the biggest trophy in Europe wich will make fans lose interest in watching the UCL. He also said that players who participate in the Super League may not be allowed to participate in the European Championships (with their International teams). This will also make the Euro's a lot less interesting from a fan's perspective because the best players in the world are no longer all participating.

FIFA's chairman also said that any players who take part in this may be not allowed to participate in the world cup in 2022. This would be the worst thing possible for football. Can you imagine a World Cup without Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? It just doesn't work.

The Wrap

I think I speak for many football fans when I say that I really hope this doesn't happen. But it really seems like it will and it's just not fair for the players and especially the fans. Sports doesn't happen without fans and when all the rich owners are doing things without taking them into consideration, it hurts to see. Fans around Europe and the world have already shown that they are all against it and some players have spoken out against this "breakout" league. Notably Liverpool captain James Milner or Manchester United forward Bruno Fernandes. It's hard to see a sport that I, and hundreds of millions of others love fall to shambles like this.

If you have any other sports topics you'd like to read about, let me know in the comments or send me a message in the "Contact me" section in the sidebar!

Thanks for reading! I'd love your comments and questions.  Please share with friends and take a moment to subscribe (head to the sidebar and sign up under the "subscribe" section) so you can read all my post-game pieces on the Leafs as well as my takes on the big news in Toronto sports and more. It would mean a lot.

#FIFA #UEFA #SuperLeague #NoToSuperLeague #FootballForFans 
Location: Toronto, ON, Canada

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