G14’s Vision Europe marks change of tactics

The Editor — Mon, March 20th 2006

Rich clubs protectionist behaviour threatens the Champions League

The powerful G14 group, representing the 18 of Europe’s biggest clubs, fuelled rumours of a breakaway European Super League with their publication last week of their internal policy document ‘Vision Europe’ - a blueprint which demonstrates their intention to more actively influence world football.

The G14 have denied that they would like to form their own league - and indeed it seems unlikely that the clubs themselves would desire it. It would not be in the interest of many of the 18 clubs in the organisation to finish low in the table. By the nature of a league, someone has to finish in the bottom half - not a tempting position for clubs that see themselves a giants nationally.

There is more chance that the Champions League will again be changed to suit these major clubs. The original European Cup was changed due to the ‘too hazardous’ knock-out nature by a previous challenge. It now appears that UEFA’s decision to remove the second group stage from the Champions League is under attack.

Despite the fact that the Champions League only comes alive at the knock-out stage it seems that the G14 are expected to argue for a more prolonged group stage. This in my opinion would be a mistake. The protectionist behaviour by the rich clubs wishing to guarantee their income will do nothing for the competition and potentially endangers the value of a cup where too few games matter already.

Listed in: Competitions, Champions League

Comments

I think this notion crops up every few years or so simply because the richest clubs want to get richer. However, I don’t think an elite, European Super League will ever replace what a domestic championship can offer, simply because football fans would not allow it. How could fans afford (both financially and time-wise) to travel to away games each week to follow their team? It would also devalue the current European cup competitions and take away the excitement and ‘magic’ that a two-legged tie against a top European club offers.

Scott Wills at 10:45 PM on Monday, March 20, 2006

Rich clubs claim about to protect their money and forget how they are stolen south america / africa clubs.

They go to 3rd world to buy stars (stars that make them to get a lot of money) but refuse to pay real price. They go to 3rd world and pay just 1 million for young player XXX, when this player plays in Europe just few games they say the price is 30 millions. Why ? Did they teach this player how to play ? Noooo !!! But when a 3rd world club wants to sell a player by his real price european clubs refuse to pay and work like a mafia where they join to avoid to accept to pay the real price.

They get a lot of money just buying players for nothing and refuse to recognize those players were teached by 3rd world clubs. And now they go forward and try to avoid players to play with their national teams.

I found impossible to avoid a player from Brazil or Argentina to play with his national team and the G14 claim is just a way to press to get more money and get more power. Is just a new kind of imperialism.

.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) at 3:10 PM on Thursday, March 23, 2006

The Fan