Once upon a time there was a kingdom not far from us, disenchanted and thirsty for money. In this kingdom lived 12, allegedly, large football clubs that after boasting meetings secret, in secret and dark rooms to decide secret rules to rewrite their world, gave birth to the infamous Superlega. We can summarize their thinking more or less like this: We are the most important clubs in Europe, let's get together, let's create our own League that will allow us to earn a lot of good money. We will organize midweek matches just between us, fascinating matches that will attract the public to the stadium and on television. A Golden League that will cover us with gold.
We will remain, however, also within each of the various national leagues, everyone will continue to play in their respective leagues, also because without us no one would buy the television rights. We are the biggest clubs, we are the ones who bring money, we are the ones who make even the smallest clubs survive, it is time for UEFA to wake up and understand it once and for all. The change we propose will be good for the whole football movement in Europe.
Nobody touches our football
SACRILEGE! In the face of such a project, the whole world rebels. Insiders, journalists, intellectuals, fans of all teams, including those of the alleged 12 big clubs, shout: "Shame, this is no longer everyone's football, it's football made only for the richest". Social media give the best of themselves by concentrating all the disappointment of the fans who, with often inelegant terms, describe the work of their presidents and their low goals.
This phantasmagoric dream does not last long, just a double rise and fall of the sun is enough to put an end to a plan that had nothing rational, if not to put a wagon of millions of euros in the farmhouse to rearrange the accounts and give some respite to the corporate coffers of the alleged 12 big clubs as empty as ever. Did the general insurrection cause the clubs involved in this project to withdraw and return to milder advice? Was it the fans who forced their beloved clubs to revise their plans? Nobody is fooled. Those who have thought about it have only been frightened of the possible consequences that would have occurred by reiterating the desire to isolate themselves.
UEFA arrives, the Holy Inquisition of football
The Superlega is a closed practice. Forever? Maybe. The UEFA press release dated 7 May 2021 certifies the renouncement of 9 out of 12 clubs from the demerger plan. Milan also joined the 8 repentant ones (Arsenal, Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham). So resist Real Madrid, Juventus and Barcelona, who risk, in theory, still being excluded from the European cups for two years. Imagine the frantic negotiations to bring runaway clubs back to the fold. Ceferin transformed into a new Inquisitor, who threatens exemplary penalties for all.
“These 9 clubs, UEFA points out, acknowledge and accept that the Super League project was a mistake and apologize to the fans, national associations, national leagues, other European clubs and Uefa. They also acknowledge that the project would not have been authorized, on the basis of the Uefa statute and regulations ”. The fear of being excluded from European competitions and deprived of the hefty earnings, has meant that the 9 repentant clubs, with their tails between their legs, return to the maternal arms of their UEFA stepmother.
The response of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus
"The founding clubs have received, and continue to receive, unacceptable pressure, threats and offenses from third parties in order to withdraw the proposed project and, consequently, desist from their right / duty to provide solutions to the football ecosystem through concrete proposals and a constructive dialogue, we read. This is intolerable from a point of law and justice has already ruled in favor of the Super League proposal, ordering FIFA and UEFA to refrain, both directly and through their members, from taking any action that could prejudice the initiative in any way pending the procedure ".
The Superlega project lasted only two days, the controversies including the harsh consequences, we imagine, will last months. The question that all the actors of this tragicomic situation that is quickly turning into farce, however, is the following: This is the best way to solve all the long-standing problems concerning UEFA and its questionable way of managing and organizing. football in Europe? UEFA and the big European clubs are giving all the best of themselves to try to find a shareable solution from all or does everyone pursue their dream of power and glory?
From the answers to these questions, if there ever were any answers, you will understand where the football system is heading. Good luck to them and to all of us who, despite everything, continue to love this crazy world.
Article by Stefano Vori
