European SUper league - The African Mirror

Apr

2021

Rethinking football finance: Fan-owned clubs around the world

ANURADHA NAGARAJ, CHRISTINE MURRAY and SHARON KIMATHI FOOTBALL fans are pressing the government to implement community control and democratic ownership of clubs following the demise of plans for a European Super League. The controversial project collapsed on Wednesday after eight of the 12 founding clubs from England, Italy and Spain pulled out under pressure from fans, players and politicians. But if clubs were owned - at least partly - by fans, would similar profit-making ventures, criticised widely for undermining established competitions and grassroots football, be a thing of the past? Here are three examples of football clubs and leagues around…

Apr

2021

By The African Mirror

How politics sank Super League

SPORT

SIMON EVANS THE six English soccer clubs who joined the breakaway European Super League exploded the project just 48 hours after British politicians lined up to oppose the plan, sources on both sides of the battle have told Reuters. Efforts by the rebel clubs' public relations managers to repair the damage have insisted the U-turn came after they listened to supporters. But those close to the process say the clubs had been prepared to weather a ferocious fan and media backlash, and that it was the political response, particularly from British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, that proved decisive. Aleksander Ceferin,…

Apr

2021

By The African Mirror

European Super League: why punishing the breakaway 12 could backfire badly

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

THE football world has been rocked by the announcement of a breakaway European Super League (ESL). The majority think it a bad idea, from governing bodies Fifa and Uefa through to national bodies such as the FA and English Premier League. ADRIAN R BELL, Chair in the History of Finance and Research Dean, Prosperity and Resilience, Henley Business School, University of Reading ANDREW URQUHART, Associate Professor of Finance, ICMA Centre, Henley Business School, University of Reading CHRIS BROOKS, Professor of Finance, Henley Business School, University of Reading The same goes for the fan groups at the six English clubs that…

Apr

2021

By The African Mirror

Super League crumbles, 6 English teams quit

SPORT

THE $6-billion dream of a breakaway European Soccer League featuring 12 of the richest clubs lies in tatters after strong player and fan resistance forced six English teams to withdraw. In sensational development in the past 24 hours, cracks began showing among the 12 clubs evidenced by the following developments: Manchester City has withdrawn from the ESL.Chelsea pulled out.Liverpool withdrew after players publicly expressed their opposition.Manchester United withdrew the club had “listened carefully to the reaction from our fans, the UK government and other stakeholders”. The club’s announcement came after its executive vice chairman Ed Woodward, who negotiated the ESL…

Apr

2021

By The African Mirror

European soccer club shares jump after Super League announcement

BUSINESS

GIANCARLO NAVACH and DANILO MASONI SHARES in English soccer team Manchester United and Italy's Juventus jumped on yesterday after they and 10 other top European clubs announced the formation of a breakaway Super League that could significantly boost revenue for the clubs' wealthy owners. Juventus' share price surged nearly 19% as shareholders cheered the move to set up a rival to UEFA's established Champions League, Europe's most prestigious club competition. Shares in Manchester United rose 9% after opening on the New York Stock Exchange. The Super League, financed by U.S. bank JP Morgan, heralds the prospect of bigger and more…

Apr

2021

By The African Mirror

How world football’s civil war affects African stars

NEWS

WORLD football has been thrown into its deepest turmoil and faces life-altering challenges and war after 12 of the richest clubs around the globe announced a breakaway European Soccer League, worth over $6-billion. The development affects hundreds of current African football stars who play for top clubs in Europe. The future of thousands of prospects eyeing lucrative European contracts is also threatened. The move has angered fans throughout Europe and the world, including at least one government. The British government pledged that it will do 'whatever it takes to protect the national game'. In an unprecedented move, which is the…