Why is the new football ESL so controversial?

[00100001]

Can some explain like I'm 5?

Why are all the fans, the government, UEFA etc up in arms?

Sorry.... Just not sure what the problem is?

Because it will be almost a closed shop. Rather than qualifying each year, so the best teams across Europe in year a play in the champions league in year b, 15 teams will permanently be in the new league with only 5 places for top performers in the previous year, very unfair on the excellent teams who are not are famous or powerful (yet regularly beat these breakaway teams in domestic football eg Leicester). It's all about money too, which of course football is but this has brought it to the fore

It's disgusting. As a lifelong Liverpool fan I'm so disappointed in the club. I'm sure the same goes for many of us on here who are fans of the so-called Big 6.

I mean what gives Arsenal (no domestic/Euro cups in over a decade) the right to be there over Leicester?

It's because the 12 clubs involved are recognisable "global brands" (famous in US, Asia and ME) hoping to maximise revenue overseas by having a proto-World Series. Big money making fixtures. The impact on domestic clubs and grassroots football is insurmountable.

I hope the PL, FA, UEFA throw the book at the big 6. Shame on them. I'm particularly disappointed in LFC. YNWA indeed...

Sorry for the rant. I really am quite cross about this.

I wish you two were writing the stories on this. As another non-follower of the sport, I didn’t really understand what was so dreadful about it either. Totally get that it doesn’t sound great now though. Very greedy.

It’s disgusting. Apparently another three founding clubs will be announced imminently. I’m in Scotland and wondering if Rangers and Celtic (aka the ‘gruesome twosome’) will be included in it, as they fit the global reach category.

I do also wonder if the other three will be having second thoughts based on the backlash!

The telltale sign that it’s all about money is that in all their comms they haven’t mentioned fans once.

So, are these games replacing existing games?

Eg Liverpool Vs Everton (I picked random team) won't happen now, because they're not on the same league?

What's particularly galling is that this has been announced during a global pandemic.

There are clubs and fans on their arses out there, trying to survive, and these greedy fuckers announce a £££ league, a closed boys club. Literally pay-to-play. Disgusting.

@00100001

So, are these games replacing existing games?

Eg Liverpool Vs Everton (I picked random team) won't happen now, because they're not on the same league?

They won't play in the champions league.

Domestically It depends on what action the Premier League & FA take. There is talk of banning the 6 from the league.

They arent replacing exsisting games. Its a new midweek competition but UEFA has said that any team that takes part is banned from the Champions League and any domestic competitions. They will also look to stop the players involved playing at international level.

Im so disappointed in Chelsea 😐

@00100001

So, are these games replacing existing games?

Eg Liverpool Vs Everton (I picked random team) won't happen now, because they're not on the same league?

they will still play domesti games in the epl this will replace the champion league

Is it not just like the 6 nations for the rugby?

@romdowa

Is it not just like the 6 nations for the rugby?

Not even remotely

Just reflects the obscene amount of money in football. DH who is utterly obsessed with it told me yesterday that if Jose Mourinho has his current contract broken, he will receive a payout of £30 MILLION . To one man! Personally anything that brings about a restart in this bloated sport at the top level, is good news in my book.

Interesting several posters have mentioned Leicester, as the first thing I thought when I read about it was how unfair it was on them!

Ok.

So it's essentially, a private members club, you get in by being able to afford the membership? 12 clubs signed up already. 3 more to be announced. They'll be permanent members.

And they might let 5 other good performing teams in? How do they measure if they're"good enough"? Aside from money?

Ok, it's a bit if a fake league. "These teams were once the best teams, through winning matches, and now are the best if the best. But now they're the best of the teams that can afford to be in our exclusive matches, and they were invited in historical performance"

So, why will it affect grass roots football?

Will teams be demoted/relegated out of the league as with 'normal' divisions? Or will they just be at the bottom of the league and hope to make their way back up?

SORRY. I am dense.

I wonder how the players feel about this. Particularly if they end up being banned from international squads.

@Violetroselily

I wonder how the players feel about this. Particularly if they end up being banned from international squads.

I thought that. It's the ultimate sanction unless, of course, the players are only in it for the money.

After all that moaning about players being exhausted how can they think that super league midweek games fit in to other commitments? Are they expecting the Premier League to give up mid week games to facilitate this? How can their fans afford to attend games?

It's very sad that the pursuit of money has produced this and threatens to destroy historical rivalries and institutions.
I hope the FA stick to their guns and don't allow them to participate in the Premier League too, it would be pointless for the other clubs without the money.

Unfortunately I think it will be the TV rights which influence the FA

mens football isn't about sport, but greed

Dont like the guy but Gary Neville gave a great speech on sky sports about this yesterday. Absolutely on point

It's greed, apparently driven by the Glazers (Man United's owners)
The big 6 aren't the current next 6 of the Premier League, they are the most known. Arsenal have won nothing in 10yrs, were Leicester have.

Football started as a working class sport now it's all about the money.

We're in the middle of a pandemic and these greedy club owners have decided to have an exclusive club for them. Football traditionally isn't exclusive, there is the magic of the FA cup for example, where smaller teams get through to play bigger teams they can only dream about. Will the big 6 no longer play in such competitions?

It is such a shame. I'm glad I support a mediocre former European champion Championship side.

They have announced it at a time when fans can't easily give their voice. I don't agree with this at all.

I’ve been a City fan for decades. This is sickening. I preferred it when we were in Division 2!!

I kept wondering what the drama was about, great explanations for a complete football ignoramus like me.

I think someone asked earlier about the impact on grassroots football.

Football leagues are a pyramid, any decisions (good or bad) at the top (PL) have a effect on the lower teams. So for example, in the FA cup this year (pandemic aside) Marine FC got drawn to play against Spurs at home. Even though Marine lost, the revenue and interest in the club for that fixture was a huge boost for them and the community.

Sorry my explanation might not be good!

Another Liverpool fan here. They have grossly underestimated the backlash from fans.

The proposed ESL, to my mind, becomes almost 'exhibition football'. Watch the big names (aka the big BRANDS) playing against each other. It's not real football because it's not a real competition. Real football is Watford ending Liverpool's unbeaten run, its Leicester winning the Premiership, its West Ham in contention for a Champions League place, it's over 100 years of history of Liverpool v Everton.
Only a real competition brings the real emotion of the game. Why don't clubs brag about winning the Charity Shield? Or televise testimonials? Because it's the real competition where the passion is and that an intrinsic part of the joy of the game.

The peculiarly worded ESL statement with reference to 4 billion fans of the game globally indicates their loyalty is to the potentially lucrative rights to televise these matches, to reaching markets not yet fully tapped. Not a moment's thought has been given to the real fans, the loyal fans, the ones who sat through losing to Northampton in the rain on a Wednesday night. Who spend money they don't have on their season tickets, who undoubtedly follow and believe in their club with a religious fervour. That passion and devotion is a key element of football. You don't stand at Anfield and sing You'll Never Walk Alone because you purchased your ticket like a commodity. It's because you are the faithful and you believe.
This proposal is a gross abuse of the faithful and it will kill the game as we know it.
I say that as a fan whose team, as it stands, won't qualify for the Champions League next season. But I'll take that over a free pass into exhibition football. That's not football at all.