European Super League still ‘alive’ – Joan Laporta

Posted on September 8, 2021 by Matthew T

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has been quoted as stating that the European Super League is still “alive”, after the project controversially collapsed after only a few days back in April 2021.

Announced in April this year, it shook the world of football to its core. The proposals would have permanently changed the sport as we know it. However, after intense fan pressure and backlash from the footballing world, particularly in England, the competition collapsed just days after the official announcement.

However, Barcelona president Joan Laporta told Onze TV, “the Super League? The project is alive.”

He continued, “if the Super League goes ahead, it will be the most attractive competition in the world and it will help a lot financially.”

“UEFA cannot act against us. We will see what the courts say. All the pressure put on the English clubs is useless if the courts accept the project.”

What happened to the Super League?

The 12 original teams to sign up consisted of the so called “Big 6” from England (Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham), the three Spanish giants (Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid), and three from Italy too (Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan). But after nine withdrew within days, only Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus remained. Reportedly, these were the main three instigators of the proposals.

The nine that have withdrawn have since re-joined the European Clubs’ Association (ECA) and agreed a fine with UEFA. Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus still remain absent, and are hoping they can still resurrect the Super League outside of UEFA’s jurisdiction.

The six English clubs who signed up have received a relatively tiny penalty from the Premier League and the FA. This consisted of a combined fine of £22 million.

Editor’s Opinion

In my opinion, the punishments served to all of the Super League clubs have been abysmal. Small fines are going to do very little to dissuade these clubs from trying to leave behind ‘regular’ football for their breakaway version. These clubs needed points deductions and bans from European competition for a number of years. Threats were made in terms of bans from the Champions League, but nothing came of them unfortunately.

Just because these sides remain ‘big’ in stature at the moment, what gives them the right to break up the sport that we love? Why should they get to remove the competition from it and be the only ones who can remain permanently? Football is all about the entertainment, and most of us have been brought up with the ‘dream’ that anybody can beat anybody on their day and you earn the right to aim high. This is all removed in a ‘closed’ Super League.

In addition, these clubs have not always been the ‘biggest’. Other clubs have had their history in the past, where they too have been the biggest in their respective countries. But you did not see them trying to break into their own competition in order to remain at the top. Quite simply, it is not how football, or sport in general, works.

The greed must be stopped now. This disgraceful Super League needs to be squashed for good before our beloved sport is taken away from the main stakeholders – us fans.

Let us know your thoughts on the European Super League in the comments section below!