Janice R. Andrews
A massive change is about to occur in the dynamic world of international soccer. Championed by powerhouse teams like Real Madrid and Manchester United, the once-rumored European super league suddenly looks not just conceivable but inevitable. According to recent New York Times stories, this breakaway league’s foundation is so well-established that funding is already being sought, with each of the 20 teams in the proposed league expected to earn an incredible $425 million commitment fee.
The idea of a super league is not new; it has been simmering for 25 years, fueled by elite teams’ desire to keep a larger portion of the enormous sums of money that their big games produce. Even though the UEFA Champions League has been profitable for these teams, UEFA’s redistributive measures also allow money to flow back into the larger soccer community. Over time, clubs have used the threat of a super league as leverage to get further concessions from UEFA, especially in the context of the Champions League reform talks.
But this time, the planned super league appears more likely than ever to materialize, which has UEFA and FIFA reacting sharply. FIFA and its regional equivalents released a united statement in reaction to the impending danger, threatening to ban players and clubs involved in a breakaway league from competitions. This command essentially prevents players from representing their countries on the biggest platform of all by preventing them from competing in major competitions like the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European Championship.
FIFA’s warning, meanwhile, is at best questionably ineffective. The potential of more independence from international obligations and the financial appeal of a super league make the regulatory bodies appear helpless in the face of the aspirations of mega-clubs. FIFA’s declaration has merit in theory, but putting it into practice would damage the prestige and attraction of its main events. Without exceptional players from elite clubs, the World Cup would lose its reputation and become little more than a watered-down exhibition competition.
Furthermore, it seems that the origins of the planned super league are linked to the financial consequences of the COVID-19 epidemic, which caused significant losses for big leagues. In this situation, the establishment of a breakaway league is a calculated move to offset income deficits and maintain the dominance of elite teams in the soccer hierarchy. Even with continuous talks about changes to current tournaments, some clubs could be forced to go it alone due to financial incentives and the desire for independence.
To put it simply, mega-clubs now have a disproportionate amount of influence, and regulatory organizations are essentially spectators to the ongoing story of soccer’s development. Even if FIFA and UEFA have expressed outrage and accused one other of being self-centered, the truth is still clear: the clubs currently control the direction the sport is taking. The possibility of a super league is becoming more and more real, posing significant challenges to established soccer governance and competitive models and heralding a new age characterized by the rise of the top few.
