This Monday marked the one year anniversary of the day the football world was shaken by the announcement of the European Super League.
Europe’s most successful clubs, including the Premier League’s big six, announced the breakaway league out of the blue.
It also included Inter Milan, A.C Milan, Juventus, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona. PSG, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund declined to participate.
Such was the unbelievable and seemingly inept way it was announced, this writer still cannot believe it wasn’t some elaborate conspiracy to make the upcoming changes to the Champions League format more palatable.
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As far as we know, though, it was very real. The European Super League would have been an NFL or NBA style closed shop that guaranteed the founding members a place every year. No promotion. No relegation.
It would also have guaranteed the founding clubs a stable revenue that no longer depended on qualifying for the Champions League.
It was no doubt influenced by the American owners who proliferate football. The Glazers, FSG and the Kroenkes were all thought to be prominent.
It served to highlight their cultural tone-deafness because it crumbled within 48 hours. Fan protests and Stamford Bridge, Anfield, Old Trafford, The Emirates caught national attention. A Manchester United game was even called off as a result, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson quickly got involved.
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It seems like a lot longer than a year ago, partly because it took place during lockdown. However, it hasn’t gone away. Even if the ESL never materializes, meritocracy in football as we know it is over.
The new Champions League format, which allows for teams to qualify based on historic performance rather than where they finished in the league, is essentially the same idea. A get-out-of-jail free clause for wealthy clubs who miss out via the league.
Once we cross that threshold, we can no longer philosophize about tradition, fairness or merit.
