German newspaper Der Spiegel claim to have intercepted a batch of e-mails that a gaggle of the biggest clubs in Europe are planning to break off to form a “super league”.
Yes, this old chestnut again.
According to the sort-of-semi-explosive report, private information obtained via Football Leaks shows that Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus, AC Milan, Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Manchester United are involved in the plan.
Specifically, the plan entails the 17 clubs with the strongest TV presences in Europe remove themselves from the Champions League and compete permanently amongst each other in a separate “elite” league that operates outside UEFA jurisdiction.
Real Madrid chose to follow a path that was rather unusual in the world of ego-driven, competitive football: Together with six other top clubs, the Spaniards assembled a kind of task force that would look into the establishment of a Super League.
In the months that followed, Real, Bayern, Juventus, Barcelona, Manchester United, Arsenal and Milan would go behind the backs of UEFA and the other clubs to work together to also develop an option for leaving the national leagues and their football associations behind entirely.
It’s also claimed that there would be no threat of relegation for the 11 founder members of this mega-league, making even more anodyne, pointless and devoid of integrity than it already sounds.
For the record, Bayern have already issued a statement to “clearly reject” the rumblings, asserting that they are “unaware” of plans for any Super League and have “taken no part” in any discussion on the subject.
Pies’ two-penneth on the matter? If these conglomerate clubs truly, truly want to form a Super League, then let them. Let them all sail off to their Elysian Football Field of unending rights agreements and boundless sponsorship deals, into an oblivion of disinterest and detached indifference. They won’t be missed. Not really.
Disenchanted fans can always start anew, however begrudgingly. Life/football finds a way.
Elsewhere in Der Spiegel’s various leakages, it’s alleged that UEFA president Gianni Infantino helped both Man City and PSG to navigate Financial Fair Play by advising them how to avoid the harshest possible FIFA sanctions for breaches – allegations FIFA have already vehemently denied.
If this news of elite-level football being a complete and utter cesspit of (alleged) corruption and increasing ineptitude has come as a revelation to you, then we commend you on your Herculean commitment to mind-altering substances.