You hate our club.
Sports writers get that a lot. The accusation that we're biased against a team. Any team. Doesn't matter what team really. West Brom, once. I don't even know why anyone would think I cared about, let alone hated, West Brom, but there it was. And it isn't true. I love football, always have. And if you love football, you love football people and therefore football clubs.
Particularly the good ones. And, let's face it, the good ones tend to be the big ones. Manchester United, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Liverpool. How can you not love the skill, the artistry, the joy you have seen them bring? How can you not admire the work ethic, the relentless drive and ambition of serial champions, serial winners, those who never give up, never seem to know when they are beaten.
So, no, I don't hate your club, I would say. And I meant it. And then, on Sunday afternoon, that changed. No matter how this shakes down, no matter where this ends, nobody who truly loves football can feel for these clubs the same way again.
Nobody can love the individuals and institutions that have tried to steal the pleasure from the lives of so many. That are attempting to ruin what began as, and remains, a game. The working man's ballet, as Alan Hudson had it. They are attempting to take that away from us and, for what? For money. And not money that would feed the poor, or change society or be used for humanitarian good.
Money to make insanely rich people, insanely richer. Men like Andrea Agnelli and Joel Glazer, born into extraordinary wealth, the members of royal families, businessmen and investors who have been successful in life beyond their most fevered dreams.
These are the people who were not satisfied with their ladle from football's pot; who would not share; who do not care for the very structure of the industry that supports them. Basic principles such as competition, or fair play that is more than just a marketing man's slogan.
So damn them. Damn them all to hell. They think they can carry on as before. That we will still be interested in their ambitions and achievements. They are wrong. It is meaningless now, because we know the contempt that lies beneath. Tottenham and Manchester City will this weekend contest a final of a competition we know means nothing to them.
An event they would sacrifice with a signature on a contract and consign to the dustbin of history, along with the institution, the Football League, that relies on its existence and has stood since 1888. So why should we care who wins it? Why should we watch, or celebrate that victory? Sunday's announcement rendered it worthless. All of it.
We know this season is not what these clubs want, or care for. They say fine words about the progress of opponents like Leicester, or West Ham, but these sentiments are hollow. The rich despise interlopers, really. They have never forgiven Leicester for winning the league in 2016. While the rest of the nation celebrated one of sport's most inspiring narratives, their lips grew thinner, their expressions curdled.
Mine, they said. We're useless, but mine. We're not good enough, but mine. They're better than us, but mine. And this is their payback, their response to that wave of national, even global, joy. A spasm of pure greed, and hatred for the very essence of sport: competition.
This has been coming. Coming since the very first mention of financial fair play two decades ago. This was always the end game. FFP sought to limit investment, and investment is one of the keys to competition. It is hardly a convoluted path to move from financial means of limiting challenge to purely practical means by announcing a closed shop. June 30, 2008, was the first column I wrote linking financial controls to this denouement. The most depressing aspect of cynicism is how often you get proved right.
I got a text from a friend of mine at Manchester City on Monday morning. It was very honest. He admitted: 'We had a choice.' And that's true of us all.. We've got choices. I was scheduled to go to Aston Villa versus Manchester City on Wednesday. I won't bother.
Right now, I don't care about City's title. Don't care how they play. Not interested in praising them if they win. Not interested in their title, their dreams, their ambitions. It's all a sham anyway. I'd turn up just in the hope they would lose, except that would let Manchester United in, and they're worse. Ian Wooldridge, who did this job with such great distinction, didn't much bother with football in the end. I used to find that strange.
How can you write about sport, but not the national sport? It's like doing mathematics but not the number three. This morning, I get it. His stance wasn't a battle that could be won. Football wasn't going to change, he knew that. But we all have the right to no longer feel moved, inspired or compelled by it. We all have the right to say: no thank you.
Including you. What a club has with its fans is a social contract. And these six clubs have broken it. 'The most important of all the least important things,' was Jurgen Klopp's definition of the game, because of what it means to communities and wider society. And he's right. Watch a funeral cortege pass and you will know the team favoured by the departed because of the colour of the flowers. A football club is an allegiance taken to the grave. A man can have four wives and no-one bats an eyelid, but if he changes his team his friends will be outraged.
But not this time, perhaps. Not having reneged on the social contract. Your club, if it is one of the six, has shown how much it cares about you. Shown how much it respects the moments that were important in your life. And now you can show them something, too.
Just keep in mind a date. April 18, 2021. That's your free pass. Produce it and we'll understand. 'I was an Arsenal supporter, until April 18, 2021...I followed Chelsea, but then April 18, 2021 came along...' We get it. No-one will judge you. 'RIP LFC 1892-2021 - SHAME ON YOU' read a sign outside Anfield on Monday. And, of course, Liverpool supporters are not going to start attending Goodison Park. But Tranmere Rovers will always need fans. I went to Marine when they played Tottenham in the FA Cup and they seemed a lovely club. Are New Brighton still going?
FC United of Manchester was formed on June 14, 2005, by disillusioned supporters of Manchester United, with the Glazer takeover as the catalyst. It can happen. Followers of Wimbledon did not decamp to Milton Keynes in 2002 but remained and founded a phoenix club. These are revolutionary steps. Revolutions are ambitious, so let's start with resistance.
To consumerism, to merchandise, to ticket renewal programmes, to subscription services, to social media. Liverpool's website on Sunday contained the announcement of the Super League, but no comment from any Liverpool director. Quoted, though, was Joel Glazer of Manchester United.
That is the understanding Liverpool's owners have of their fans. They think they want to hear from a Manchester United man at a time when the club's history is in the trash, and its future is a plastic plaything for US venture capitalists. These people do not deserve you. They don't deserve your time, they certainly don't deserve your money.
How many matches do you think they have watched, the ones who are trying to steal our game? Actually watched by attending? Sheikh Mansour has been to one, we know that. Stan Kroenke? John W. Henry? Joel Glazer? Joe Lewis? These are, to a man, absentee owners. Some would barely run out of fingers counting the matches they have seen.
So it not disloyal to turn your backs on them and the soullessness they represent. Your commitment is already so much greater than theirs. More than a club; this means more; these were all slogans, sales pitches. It was only ever the money, the money, the money, the money. It was only ever about them.
The pity is that fans are not allowed in stadiums to tell these creatures what they think. They cannot even make their voices heard outside because if Henry cannot be bothered to explain through club media channels, he is hardly going to be troubled venturing to Liverpool to hear protests in person.
Same with the Glazers in Tampa, the Sheikh in Abu Dhabi, Lewis in whatever tax haven houses him these days. It is a pity that, in the final two weekends when fans are allowed back, the numbers will be so small there will probably be enough cheerleaders to reach capacity. Still, wouldn't it be wonderful if nobody went? If Manchester City paraded their latest bauble to row after row of empty seats, mirroring its worth.
If Manchester United's fans delivered a verdict every bit as damning as the days of green and gold. If Liverpool walked alone to You'll Never Walk Alone. They had a song at FC United, to the tune of Mellow Yellow by Donovan. 'I don't care about Rio,' it began, 'Rio don't care about me...' It was a reaction to Rio Ferdinand's new contract, which came to symbolise the disconnect between players and supporters.
Yet the players were never the enemy. Most were working class men rewarded at the going rate for exceptional talent. This is different. What talent have the venture capitalists brought to English football? What is their gift to us all? Theft. The theft of our game, its beauty and uniqueness.
Some are still not understanding what risks being lost here. A Leicester supporter was interviewed coming out of his team's FA Cup semi-final on Sunday. 'Sounds like a good idea,' he said of the Super League. 'It's another trophy for us to win.' No, it isn't. It is specifically designed so you cannot win, so you can never win, so you will never win. The odds aren't even 5,000-1. There are no odds. You're not on the racecard.
There is talk of five places being awarded in this league each season on merit. So, yes, technically Leicester could surmount all obstacles. Yet the merit qualifiers are excluded from the commercial pot worth 15 per cent of income, and half of the shared pot, estimated at roughly £1.6 billion.
The fee for playing in the group stage - which the big 12 do not even have to qualify for - is roughly £155m, for winning the tournament the bonus is just £25m. At the moment the Champions League winner trumps a group stage participant by 300 per cent.
So were Leicester to qualify, and win, the entire competition, they would make half of what Real Madrid would receive for being entered in the group stage automatically. So, no, it isn't a good idea; it isn't another trophy for Leicester to win; and by hijacking the wealth of European competition, the rich clubs are ensuring Leicester will never trouble them again. And you're meant to be loyal, to this? Fascinated, by this? Impressed, by this?
Forget a takeover at Newcastle, forget thinking big at Everton or Leeds. Why bother? There will be no surprises in football anymore, no spice. Liverpool finish outside the top four? Who cares, they're in anyway.
Arsenal could continue their downward trajectory and it would make not one atom of difference. There would be no winners in North London, except club owners. The last five teams to eliminate Manchester City, Tottenham, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United from European knock-out rounds are Lyon, Dinamo Zagreb, Bayern Munich, Olympiakos and Sevilla and not one of them are in this competition. How super. How convenient. How terrified of failure must these plastic titans of the universe be?
Ultimately, though, we have options. 'If you support a club who have secretly plotted this coup then you have a choice,' wrote Danny Baker. 'To submit and adapt to the will of your big business masters or withdraw your time and money from this insidious power grab made in your name.
Don't start up with 'but my grandad supported this team, so I have to'. Your grandad would have spat on this travesty of his club. Your blind craven support is what the money men behind it depend on. Football will never forgive you.' And he's right. Your grandad fought a war.
Nobody is asking you to storm the Normandy beaches. Just don't buy a shirt, don't buy a ticket, do not behave in any manner that might be taken as encouragement by these charlatans. Think you can do that? Right. Good. Off we go.
fmab
1
I am ashamed to call myself a lfc fan. I used to take pride in lfc everything the club did was always right to me until now. FSG has simply told the fans to walk alone
Jimklmoprs
2
Manchester as a club are drowned by these owners. the Glazers. cant we see that? they will not care about the club, the history, the fans, its all about money. this is the time now to #glazersout
nattidapotati
0
Why do you hate the Esl
Why don’t you
Emily12747
0
If this goes ahead, I will support another club. Hull City perhaps?
I will stop watching football. or I might support Leicester or West ham...idk might leave football for forever
uromama54
0
They are teenagers, blood flows in the opposite direction, so they don't think much
Aah, a voice of reason in this madness 👍
Zakabikpry
0
Us and Chelsea don't even want to be in it, we are only joining so we aren't left out, if there's a chance we can still back out, I hope we take it 🙏
we shouldn't have joined in the first place
Arjenrobben11
1
You people are crazy man... When UCL first started it was same drama... now you want to burn ppls houses down? What's wrong with your brain?
They are teenagers, blood flows in the opposite direction, so they don't think much
Kondoriano
2
You people are crazy man... When UCL first started it was same drama... now you want to burn ppls houses down? What's wrong with your brain?
Crazy people
SMHellas
1
If this goes ahead, I will support another club. Hull City perhaps?
presinarolf
1
i wil seize to be man united fan if they continue with this project of a thing my heart bleed
uromama54
1
forget rivalries. all football fans. angry formal fans. if you support BARCELONA or REAL MADRID. LIVERPOOL or EVERTON. MANCHESTER UNITED or MANCHESTER CITY. BAYERN MUNICH or DORTMUND. AC MILAN or INTER MILAN. SHEFFIELD UNITED OR LEYTON ORIENT. football fans. please let's come together to burn down the hopes of that's selfish bullies and #cancelsuperleague
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You people are crazy man... When UCL first started it was same drama... now you want to burn ppls houses down? What's wrong with your brain?
yayuyuyai
6
ManU playing against Real Madrid, Inter, Barsa instead of Malmo, Ludogorest, and Genk is going to kill football.
SK_2021
1
European Super League is Have A lot Of Good Team So The Player Will Be Tired To Play Because After Meet A Great Club They Need To Meet One More Great Club And After After So That Why We Don’t need European Super League !
wapamprstu
0
level 110 kiss my f Man United can get rid of the it's not fair on what is it they get so pissed off about everything but the fans are getting crossed so weak so I'll only pack his bags and leave the f😚
demien_paucus
5
Real football fans against the Super League! 🚫💰
demien_paucus
5
Real football fans against the Super League! 🚫💰
Joyaklsyz
0
agree
mupbcdikl
0
That’s nonsense I still absolutely love my club still its not the end of the world
Same bro
lukzlat910
2
Like we did a while ago. We'll burn his house without mercy
Yes...we must do what must be done...do not hesitate...show no mercy
Man_utd246
2
Then we go to his house
Like we did a while ago. We'll burn his house without mercy
fucabdmosy
2
It's true. LFC are winning vs Leeds and I feel hollow inside. The 1st time in 50 odd years.. they've killed my love for the beautiful game.
raggayoyo08
5
That’s nonsense I still absolutely love my club still its not the end of the world
pibekptuz
5
The truth is if all European giants play superleague, majority of the fans will watch those matches than boring UCL without any big team. Who will watch Leicester vs Granada in UCL? 🤔🤔🤔While there's Barcelona vs Man City or Real Madrid vs Liverpool or Man Utd or Juventus or Interzionale or AC Milan or Tottenham or Athletico De Madrid or Arsenal or Chelsea, this teams have 75%+ global fanbase and the superleague will offer more matches and interesting fixtures consisting of home-away. Every fan wishes to see European giants go against each other every week
lukzlat910
2
Woodward: Look, those idiots don't even where my office is
Then we go to his house
Arjenrobben11
3
forget rivalries. all football fans. angry formal fans. if you support BARCELONA or REAL MADRID. LIVERPOOL or EVERTON. MANCHESTER UNITED or MANCHESTER CITY. BAYERN MUNICH or DORTMUND. AC MILAN or INTER MILAN. SHEFFIELD UNITED OR LEYTON ORIENT. football fans. please let's come together to burn down the hopes of that's selfish bullies and #cancelsuperleague
[image]
Woodward: Look, those idiots don't even where my office is
Zadeenyero10
1
Wenger in 2009: ‘Maybe in 10 years, you will have a European league…the money that will be coming in from the Champions League will not be enough for some clubs’ Wenger in 2018: ‘It is inevitable…to share money between the big clubs and the small clubs will become a problem’
sunceknprz
2
Why do you hate the Esl
manipula_balla
10
I'm [100percent sure that if UEFA and FIFA was on board with ESL everyone would be promoting it and also on board with it not finding a simple problem. But I guess this world is filled with alot of bandwagons and I and I know that fans that are against ESL will soon be all about and inlove with it leave everything to time because I don't really see a problem with a little mid season competition which can also help those big clubs with thier financial issues including the high wages of player, which us the fans doesn't really contribute to because just by competing in the ESL I think pays more than winning both EPL and the CL combined. But you guys are viewing this situation form one angle only thinking only about greed and shadowing the CL but not looking for the clubs or a different point of view
syamalanaidugade
1
if super League takes place and uefa ban those teams from competing in leagues and UCL then Atlanta:-serie A champs Leicester/West ham :- PL champs Sevilla:- lalaiga champs psg:- UCL winners neymar/mbappe :- ballondor
Brett-Clement
0
Us and Chelsea don't even want to be in it, we are only joining so we aren't left out, if there's a chance we can still back out, I hope we take it 🙏
ManUnited-Red
2
we don't need this super league, don't why they still want it
bobofrd
3
💯% against✊🏾✊🏾
Ethanhunt305
0
Just explain me this. Don't Barcelona and real madrid are owned by fans. So how can they play in this league without the permission of fans?
Wesmokeweed
2
EarlIan
2
I hope once this rubbish supper thing goes down, it should give a rift to some Scavengers. They are trying to ruin the game in the midst of a pandemic, taking advantage of no fans in the stadiums.
Ethanhunt305
0
Now PSG can sign messi 🙏 Messi Neymar Mbappe.. wooooo
Miraculous
0
Nah nah nah... u cannot turn down such a proposal if u are chairman of any club. It's too tempting albeit greed but any other team would like to be there.
jezabdnpyz
4
forget rivalries. all football fans. angry formal fans. if you support BARCELONA or REAL MADRID. LIVERPOOL or EVERTON. MANCHESTER UNITED or MANCHESTER CITY. BAYERN MUNICH or DORTMUND. AC MILAN or INTER MILAN. SHEFFIELD UNITED OR LEYTON ORIENT. football fans. please let's come together to burn down the hopes of that's selfish bullies and #cancelsuperleague
[image]
That Simpsons Photo Alone Gets My Like 👍🏻
pneshun
2
The players dont want it, the coaches dont want it, the FANS dont want it yet these 12 people in charge of these clubs wont listen...Its shameful Corruption everywhere!
Profnick
9
when the UCL was first proposed, it was widely opposed, English clubs were not allowed to participate until Leeds United took it upon themselves to break into the UCL. there was a lot of pessimism around a Champions League but now many years later it is the biggest club tournament in the world. it kinda feels like dejavu with the European Super League with the English FA again trying to stop clubs from participating in it. the funny part is FIFA was planning to introduce a tournament called African Super League and no one had a problem with that, all of a sudden its a problem just because the Super league is not FIFA's or UEFA's brainchild... the issue here is not even football, the issue is money, UEFA want it all
Dilinho
0
atleast now they'll be competition amongst small clubs as well as the big clubs not dominance.
the_Profe55or
1
EUROPEAN SUPER LEAGUE? 🤔🤔 BRING IT ON BIATCHEZ! 😊😊😊
Dilinho
1
I just want to be seeing my club playing daily no whatsoever league they are found in. cos super league or not it's still a competition n it's football that round thing that brings us all together so I just want my team to be action as often as possible and to see good football
Napnosu
3
F*ck to super league.
JHill
2
No to super League
Brightberry
3
CREATE by the POOR Stolen by the RICH
CoolBlizeSurge
1
fans are delusional. The same delusional fans demand that Real Madrid keep Sergio Ramos, sign alaba, sign kounde, sign Mbappe and Haaland. Ramos refuse to take a pay cut and is threatening to leave. Messi pockets 500m plus a year and fans want Barcelona to keep him as well as sign Haaland and martinez. Reward for champions league trophy 120m, Bale who doesn't even play for Real Madrid anymore takes more than that as salary. Big players extort their clubs, uefa extort big clubs and can't find any solution to players astronomical wages. All big clubs are in huge debts. Why exactly are they not supposed to look for better offer?
Nobody demands that and if you actually demand that you are mental. We just express our opinions and give our opinions in these comments. We are not the board or president or anything. We are just fans and we don’t demand anything. This league that is going to be created is all about money and nothing else. Do clubs care about football or raising money to buy players. I would rather see Madrid lose 13-2 to Barca then see football lost forever to money greeds
hinn4k`
2
The Question now is, how can we fans fight this.. Cant belive this is happening.. im so devastated..im so sad.. and yes i know nobody cares...
witabmnsty
2
I really don’t understand what this European super league is about
cr7isdefogoat
49
forget rivalries. all football fans. angry formal fans. if you support BARCELONA or REAL MADRID. LIVERPOOL or EVERTON. MANCHESTER UNITED or MANCHESTER CITY. BAYERN MUNICH or DORTMUND. AC MILAN or INTER MILAN. SHEFFIELD UNITED OR LEYTON ORIENT. football fans. please let's come together to burn down the hopes of that's selfish bullies and #cancelsuperleague