Option Two: A European Super League
The idea of a European Super League is proposed by those who believe the current structures cannot hold and that the “super clubs” will more and more come to dominate the game to the extent they smash the current setup and go it alone.
In that scenario, some reckon we’d get an inevitable invite.
But how likely is the idea itself, and that we’d be part of it?
First up, let’s try to imagine what the European Super League proposal would actually look like; are we talking one division or a series of them, effectively replacing domestic football entirely? If we’re talking about a breakaway top division there is zero chance that it will involve us, and if it’s a closed shop we’re probably locked out forever.
But we should be glad about that, because such a setup would have exactly zero legitimacy in the game and UEFA and FIFA would come down hard on those involved in it. It’s not clear that it would be able to utilise the global transfer market, registration of players would be a lottery, none would be allowed to play for their national teams … it’s dead on arrival.
On top of that, the European Super League idea was always a crazy one from the point of view of the fans; forget those glorious away days we all have such fond memories of and will one day be able to enjoy again. Fancy taking a flight and two days off work every time you want to travel to an away match? How long would the novelty last?
A European League setup with more than one division would have us somewhere. Maybe not the top flight or the one below it, but we’d squeeze in. But a system like that would be even more disruptive to the current order and even less likely to succeed.
And again, it would involve us starting way down in the system and surrounded by uncertainty about how long the competitions would even last.
Barcelona’s ex President was fantasising, not discussing a serious subject. Those who often think in these terms are deluding only themselves. Football’s governors will never permit it because to even allow the debate would weaken their own power and the subsequent power of those national administrations under them. It’s a dead end.