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It’s been over a month since Europe’s biggest football clubs failed-plan of a closed league. On 18th April 2021, 12 clubs Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Juventus, Inter Milan, and Milan have decided to form a new closed league to replace the already existing Champions League. The new league would have 12 founding teams and 8 other invited clubs. For 100 years, football leagues around the world have been based on meritocracy, teams that do not perform in their respective league would either get relegated from their current division to a lower division or fail to qualify for European competitions. The Superleague eliminates the idea of relegation and qualification.
The 20 teams mentioned above would not need to worry about getting relegated to a lower division. The 12 founding members would receive 400 million dollars for participating in this new league, which means they will get paid irrespective of their performances on the field. UEFA president Alexander Cheferin warned the clubs against joining the super league and went as far as to threaten the teams with expulsion from European and international competition if they join.
This plan for the super league fell apart like a pack of cards due to international pressure from the fans, governments, football associations, all the teams barring Real Madrid and FC Barcelona have withdrawn their participation from the league. All the 12 founding member teams might face heavy penalties from their respective teams. The premier is considering levying a hefty fine on the clubs as are the Laliga and Serie A.
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Real Madrid’s president Fiorentino Perez has spearheaded this failed project. He says “ We are just working on saving football. We have worked very hard on something that would satisfy everyone.”
“Reality is reality. Look at the TV records, and how many people watch big games, and how many people watch the other games. We have to be real,” he said.
“That new Champions format in 2024 has no meaning. No one can understand it. We need a new format to create more money. Young fans don’t watch football, they have other hobbies.
“I talk to [Joan] Laporta, Barcelona are still with us. Juventus did not leave. I’m not scared of FIFA or UEFA.” (Source of the comments – El Laguaro radio show)
Given the staunch defense of the project by Perez, the super league could come to fruition in the future. For the football community to accept it, the Super League will have to be an open based on meritocracy.
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