Villaflor: A league of villains

There is trouble in football paradise, and it seems the love for money—not the beautiful game—is the root cause.

In a joint statement, UEFA, the English Football Association, the Premier League, the Royal Spanish Football Federation, La Liga, the Italian Football Federation, and Lega Serie A were quick to assail a dozen English, Spanish and Italian clubs that are behind the creation of the “Super League.”

“As previously announced by FIFA and the six Confederations, the clubs concerned will be banned from playing in any other competition at domestic, European or world level, and their players could be denied the opportunity to represent their national teams,” the statement posted on the UEFA website on April 18, Sunday, read.

Described as “the biggest shakeup in the history of European football,” the Super League has 12 founding members: six from the Premier League (Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City), three from La Liga (Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid), and three from Serie A (Juventus, Inter Milan and AC Milan).

The Times of UK said creating the Super League would allow these big clubs “to seize control of the vast revenue generated by broadcast and endorsement deals.”

While the UEFA Champions League funneled loads of cash to these big clubs, it had a system in place that gave smaller clubs a share of the spoils to sustain operations and allow them to climb the football ladder based on merit.

The Champions League is far from perfect, but at least it is not driven by greed, and, therefore, not evil.

The same cannot be said of the Super League and its creation: It is nothing more than a revolt of the powerful football elite who, with their sense of entitlement, simply want to hoard all of the gold and glory.

The Super League is an abomination of the beautiful game, and so must be repudiated.

UEFA sums up its statement with words of gratitude and a call for action: “We thank those clubs in other countries, especially the French and German clubs, who have refused to sign up to this. We call on all lovers of football, supporters and politicians, to join us in fighting against such a project if it were to be announced. This persistent self-interest of a few has been going on for too long. Enough is enough.

Trending

No stories found.

Just in

No stories found.

Branded Content

No stories found.
SunStar Publishing Inc.
www.sunstar.com.ph