The European Super League has a special "magic", which can make the inseparable Real Madrid and Barcelona turn into a loving family in a blink of an eye.
In April 2021, 12 European football giants represented by Real Madrid and Barcelona announced the establishment of the "European Super League". However, under the strong resistance of UEFA and other parties, the remaining 10 teams withdrew one after another, leaving only Real Madrid and Barcelona in the European Super League, which was not successfully held.
And a recent ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union has given the European Super League a new toss. The court found that UEFA's sanctions against the UEFA Super League were contrary to the law and that UEFA could not impose penalties on the respective clubs.
Even if it is "the enemy of all Europe", why are Real Madrid and Barcelona still so determined to hold the European Super League?
01 Benefits.
For Real Madrid and Barcelona, the European Super League is really "too fragrant".
The traditional European competition is constantly expanding, not only with more "civilian teams" participating, but also with more European matches. Coupled with UEFA's monopoly on the distribution of TV rights, the giants naturally have to make a small calculation: the Champions League cake is not much bigger, and there are more and more people sharing the bonus, why don't we make one ourselves?
According to Spain**, as long as the European Super League can be successfully held, Real Madrid and Barcelona, as the initiators, will each receive at least 1 billion euros in revenue. And the European Super League is no longer controlled by UEFA, as long as the team makes more money into their own pockets. For Barcelona, whose finances are tight, this opportunity to make money is even more worth trying.
The company responsible for launching the UEFA Super League has also made attractive terms for fans, with the UEFA Premier League CEO saying that all their matches will be broadcast for free. If you can see the strong conversations between the top teams every week, and really live for free, it seems like a good choice for fans.
Screenshot of the official website of the European Super Company.
02 Contradictions.
Now the European Super League has more confidence, but it has also encountered more fierce condemnation.
The five major leagues have officially issued statements against the European Super League. Not only that, but other giant teams that used to stand side by side with Real Madrid and Barcelona have also "run away" to draw a line. In addition, the Italian Football Association also stated: The European Super League and the domestic league can only choose one of the two, and don't come back if you go.
The expansion of European competitions such as the Champions League has touched the cake of the giant teams. But it is undeniable that the competition system under UEFA's governance has its vital value. The driving force behind the continuous improvement of European football is the pyramid formed by the domestic league and European competitions. Starting from the lower leagues at the bottom of the pyramid, clubs work their way up to the higher leagues with the goal of stepping onto the top European competitions.
Once the European Super League is formed, it will not only impact the Champions League and other competitions, but the entire European football structure. The upward passage of the pyramid will no longer be open to every club, and teams with little commercial value are clearly not popular in the European Super League. As a result, there are more voices of boycott coming from smaller leagues in Europe, or from various fan groups.
Premier League boycott of European Super League announcement. **Official website of the English Premier League.
The Polish Premier League puts it this way: "Minor league teams need the opportunity to play against the best teams in Europe, because everyone who has succeeded on the pitch dreams of playing with the best players in Europe." This is the philosophy of football starting from the lowest leagues and the foundation of club and football development. ”
On the one hand, there is money, and on the other hand, it has become a "public enemy" in the hearts of various European leagues and fans, and it is not too difficult for a giant team that is not as short of money as Barcelona to make the choice of running away.
03 Gambling.
Even if the boat of friendship becomes a two-wheeler with only Real Madrid and Barcelona, the promoters of the European Super League are confident that they will continue to push forward. According to some reports, the European Super League has been in contact with around 60 European clubs, and more details of the format will be announced in the next step.
It was even revealed that many clubs were only forced by external pressure to privately agree to join the European Super League. The CEO of the European Super League also mentioned in the interview that he will continue to talk to UEFA, clubs and fans to make everyone believe that the European Super League is good for football.
For fans who support the European Super League, watching the home teams of the giants play against the small teams of the minor leagues is not enjoyable. Why should fans think about how to divide the cake, it is enough to have a good game.
But perhaps the charm of football is not only strong dialogue, but also too many stories of "civilian teams" that are moving. All kinds of "miracles" and "upsets" often make people believe that even if they are not favored, there is still a chance to break through against the wind.
Judging from the current situation, the game of whether the European Super League can be successfully held will continue for some time. It's just that the result may be more like UEFA president Ceferin said: "We're not going to try to stop the European Super League, hopefully they start fantastic games as soon as possible, but only two clubs are participating. ”