[Petrochemicals (OP)]

All of the recent hubbub about the European Super League made me wonder whether the severe reaction to it was more about money than principles. I do not believe the F. A., fifa or Uefa where in line to receive any money from the new league and it just seems like sour grapes.

 A European league will happen one day and probably soon, there is no question that the likes of Manchester utd who are massively in debt or Manchester City who are massively subsidised will go on playing in a league against minnows like Norwich  who are receiving money at a similar rate, or having to qualify for the European megabucks every season.

[alancalverd]

The problem with the ESL was that it had nothing to do with competitive football.  The participants were self-selected, there was no qualification route for new promotions, no relegation, and  no penalty for losing a game or bonus for winning. It was just a pointless exhibition of the skills of a hundred or so of the world's most expensive players to fill the gaps between TV advertisements.

Sport is primarily about competition, with leagues, ladders, weight classes, handicaps etc  organised to ensure a reasonably fair fight between equals and some reward for winning: entertaining the crowd is a secondary consideration.