Comments on: The G-14 Super League: A European NFL?

By: joel

joel — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 15:48:37 +0000

Argh. Don’t get me started on how Europe needs a league like the NFL! You’re assuming that there’s not a huge gap between fans in Europe and the U.S., but there is.

European fans are way, way, way more politically opposed to the influence of money on the game than American fans are. There would be massive opposition to anything that undermines 1) The domestic leagues 2) Relagation/promotion 3)UEFA 4) International football and FIFA itself.

That’s a lot of bathwater you’re throwing out just to get more Real Madrid v. Man U matches on the calendar. And while those G-14 clubs have huge fan bases, the federations, confederations and FIFA are pretty big constituencies themselves.

And most of all: The NFL model sucks! No relegation/promotion. A draft that gives the best young players to the worst teams. Complete inability to spread the game to new markets. I don’t see how this is a winning recipe for anyone. Possibly UEFA can “borrow” some NFL concepts, but they should stay away from the whole formula.

By: The Run of Play

The Run of Play — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 18:11:02 +0000

UEFA v. The G-14: The Short History of a Pointless Disagreement…

[...] European football should emulate the NFL [...]…

By: Lates Links « Jackie Manuel’s Posse

Lates Links « Jackie Manuel’s Posse — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 15:54:06 +0000

[...] football blog has a post up about a NFL-like European football league. It also a bit terrifying. First off, Platini has some [...]

By: joejoejoe

joejoejoe — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 22:34:27 +0000

Investing Russian oligarch money in democratic football initiatives since 2007. Liberté, égalité, Chelsea!

By: Brian

Brian — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 11:46:47 +0000

If this Guardian report is true, it appears Platini has indeed backed down in the standoff with the G-14 and will now allow national associations to decide for themselves whether their Champions League places will come from league or cup competitions. But it’s also being reported that he has dealt a major blow to the G-14 by giving more influence within UEFA to that big group of G-14 “invitees”, and thus convincing some of them to think twice about joining the G-14. Peter Kenyon has now openly said that Chelsea will refuse any offer to sign on with the G-14. joejoejoe, it looks like you’re getting your wish. Who would have thought that Chelsea would lead the way against an organization devoted to the power of money in football?

http://football.guardian.co.uk/Columnists/Column/0,,2206514,00.html

By: joejoejoe

joejoejoe — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 01:10:27 +0000

I’m not going to devote any brainpower towards figuring out how to make the G-14 work. I’d rather spend the time figuring out how to monkeywrench the awful thing at every turn. It’s a greedy disaster.

Country federations could pull all kinds of maneuvers with international dates, domestic club cups, and international call-ups to make the G-14 much less marketable. UEFA Champions League at least promotes the sport in Europe. The G-14 is simply about extracting money from the continent with zero motivation to promote the sport.

Platini needs only to get a few country federations on his side. Germany and France both get 3 sides into CL and historically they are not the same 3 teams every year. These national federations would have incentive to work AGAINST the G-14. A strong G-14 hurts the Italian, Spanish, and English leagues and there would be an opening for France and Germany to regain a bit of their luster on the world club scene.

G-14 runs the same risk as big programs in major college US football. Big programs like Notre Dame get so concerned with hype and their “unique” product that they end up just not being very good at their sport.

I know this is a bit of a ramble but I really am rooting hard against the G-14.

By: Brian

Brian — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 23:47:54 +0000

I think the question now, as you say, is whether Platini will back down before the stare-down reaches a crisis. (I think it’s safe to assume that the G-14 won’t offer much of a compromise.) I get the sense that Platini (with his imaginary son at Millwall) is a true believer when it comes to promoting the interests of the smaller clubs. But it also seems to be the case that his candidacy for the presidency of UEFA was successful largely due to the support of the smaller clubs whose interest he pledged to promote. So it’s probably safe to assume that his current hue and cry has something to do with his political debt to the Rosenborgs and Maccabi Haifas of the world.

If that’s the case, then it seems like that, since it’s not in the smaller clubs’ interest to see a superleague formed from which they will largely be excluded, and it’s not in Platini’s interest to see UEFA fall apart, he’ll gracefully cave in in order to keep the union together, right? Or is there some sign that this standoff is more than political theater?

Actually, there is a sign, which is the G-14’s genuine interest in breaking away from the Champions League and forming a league they can control. But I can’t see them going ahead with that dream yet, particularly if Platini gives way on the current points of contention.