European Super League Fizzles Out

[Sunk]

// All six Premier League teams involved in the European Super League are set to formally withdraw from the competition.

Manchester City were the first club to formally pull out after Chelsea had signalled their intent to do so by preparing documentation to withdraw.

The other four sides - Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham - are set to follow, with a statement expected later on Tuesday. //

Well, that didn’t take long to implode. Thankfully.

[jim360]

I'd say the best explanation for the backlash is that the move was unilateral. Not only were UEFA and Fifa left in the dark, but also the fans, the managers, and the teams. If they had instead proposed a consultation along the same lines, the backlash would at least not nearly been as intense. But a fait accompli, coupled with incredible timing (Uefa announced reforms to the Champions' League that these clubs had agreed to, and then walked away from it); and, apparently, lying to other organisations that they'd have needed to work with, went down exactly as well as such things always do.

Moreover, it's against the rules of the national leagues to join another organisation. So there's a level of arrogance to it as well, the entitlement of these clubs thinking that they deserve by default to be represented at the top of the game and thinking that every other authority should just roll over and accept it.

So it was badly handled. And predictably so. Which makes it also monumentally stupid.

[barney15c]

I have a theory - the 6 English Clubs could be sued for hundreds of millions by J P Morgan for pulling out of the ESL first. The remaining clubs would be fearful of getting sued too, so if they could argue that the league is now unsustainable without the 6 EPL clubs they could pull out of the league without fear of being hammered by J P Morgan too, they might even decide to sue JPM for breach of contract of not fulfilling their side of the bargain, it's plausible i think.

[tiggerblue10]

Thank you for explaining, Ken and Jim. I was confused as to what was going on as well. I'm not even remotely interested in footie but I too wondered what all the fuss was about. I understand now and yes I agree, the ESL was a ridiculous idea and glad all the English teams are pulling out.

[emmie]

I too wondered what this was all about, not a fan of footie at any point. Now i get it, glad that common sense has prevailed.

[bluemoon1]

"ENGLISH FOOTBALL FANS REFUSE TO SOCIAL DISTANCE"

Oh hang on, they're doing what we want them to do.

"VICTORY FOR ENGLISH FOOTBALL FANS OVER FOREIGN BILLIONAIRES"

[bluemoon1]

For fans read "HOOLIGANS" in the first one

[youngmafbog]

//they might even decide to sue JPM for breach of contract//

Haha, you should see the amount of brass JPMC put aside for fighting litigation each year. Its staggering. Honestly these billionaires are small fry to the wallet of JPM.

[Ken4155]

Tomus; "The richest clubs are the ones that win everything anyway. Leicester was a brilliant exception, but how often does that happen?" This ESL would more or less have ensured that a 'Leicester' would never happen again. I mentioned a 'level playing field' earlier. There really isn't one now, but there would never ever be one if this proposed ESL had come to fruition. The knock-on effect on transfer fees and wages would be devastating to the 'poor relations' of the PL - sides like mine who struggle each season to 'compete' with thee demands of the league.
I don't know if you're being deliberately obtuse but surely the fact that hardly anyone outside the owners of Europe's richest clubs were in favour should show the enormity of what was proposed.

[ToraToraTora]

"European Super League Fizzles OutEuropean Super League Fizzles Out"
Can't say I'm surprised, they saw the reaction and thought no thanks!

[andy-hughes]

This was a cynical money-maker, and clearly nothing to do with the notion of sport and competition - as Pep Gaurdiola eloquently explained - if there is no competition, there is no urge to win.

The government got involved to a ludicrous degree - promising to amend competition law in order to stop the tournament going ahead, which is ridiculous overreaction, entirely designed as a vote catcher.

I wish it was as quick witih its outrage and speed to act over things like 'smart' motorways - ofty-plus deaths and no technology for eighteen months.

Where is their outrage and speedy action there?

[ToraToraTora]

barney: //they might even decide to sue JPM for breach of contract// - err, if anyone is doing suing it'll be JPM suing the clubs for pulling out of the deal!