How the European Super League exposed the deep-rooted issue of club ownership in English football.
A few words on how I, a football fan feel about the attempted introduction of a European Super League…
The European Super League wreaked havoc across all pillars of world football since its announcement. The scheme backed by money-hungry owners of the world’s top clubs has allowed such imposters of the game to act in utter contempt to the standard football fan, with one common aim, to make the rich richer. Garry Neville appropriately branded the move the “attempted murder of English Football,” which included England’s self-proclaimed ‘big six’, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur. But with Leicester, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Southampton, and West Ham all finishing above at least one of the ‘Big six’ in the past five seasons what gives these clubs the standing to be unworthy of competition, with no regard to merit?
Transfermarkt ranked the Premier League teams on net spend over the past 5 seasons, placing Chelsea, Liverpool, and Tottenham, 13th, 14th, and 15th, highlighting a sense of overachievement in recent years. So, is prestige and club history the answer? Tottenham have not won a piece of silverware since the 2008 League Cup. With team histories embedded with success, such as Everton, Leeds United, and West Ham still competing at the highest level, it seems that self-righteousness and pure greed are the only identifiers as to why these clubs feel they can strip themselves of fair and equal competition, which is quite obviously taken for granted by club owners.
Once the game of the ‘working class’, the gradual integration of billionaire ownership has left football fans alike from clubs up and down the country losing touch with what it means to be a football fan. There is an understanding as to why the ‘big six’ clubs decided to enter the European Super League, with JP Morgan committing €3.25 billion to kickstart the competition, with each club promised a €200-€300 million ‘welcome bonus from the US investment bank. These men, families, and companies in charge did not get to the level of success they are attaining today by putting others first. The insincerity and ruthlessness portrayed allows for profit and success but is that how we as fans desire our clubs to run, as businesses for profit?
So, what next? The German Bundesliga is an exemplar of how good governance can occur and do so effectively. Seeing the highest average attendance in world football weekly in concurrence with the lowest ticket prices, and thriving fan culture, aspects of the English game which are currently lost, is this where we turn for inspiration? The 50+1 model of club ownership adopted in German Football League rules requires clubs and their fans to hold the majority of their voting rights. Spectators have been transferred back to fans rather than consumers of their club. The alternative? Fan representation as a non-executive director on the club’s board. Both would require a change in legislation, but with the government, Premier League, and FA being outspokenly disgusted with the proposal, changes are sure to be made.
The People’s victory saw the fall of the proposed league, leaving fans vocal in their opposition towards the imposters of club ownership. Strong calls for the Glazer family, Kroenke family, and Fenway Sports Group to sell Manchester United, Arsenal, and Liverpool have been met with strong opposition from their respective owners, despite Ed Woodward taking the wrath for the Glazer family at Manchester United after his resignation. With a current takeover bid unfolding against Stan Kroenke at Arsenal, with Daniel Ek, Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, and Patrick Vieria all pitting against their club’s owner, is now the time for fans to regain their voice and influence against disingenuous club ownership?
