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The @FT Big Read on the future of football 
On the Super League. Reforming the Champions League. & more. Infantino, Agnelli and many others on why these rumblings are happening now.
Do read the piece. A thread on why money explains everything: https://www.ft.com/content/c986a6ff-d653-4e01-aae2-b02d1d9715a9
1/9
On the Super League. Reforming the Champions League. & more. Infantino, Agnelli and many others on why these rumblings are happening now.
Do read the piece. A thread on why money explains everything: https://www.ft.com/content/c986a6ff-d653-4e01-aae2-b02d1d9715a9
1/9
The Super League talks are *very* real.
When Barcelona’s outgoing president Bartomeu revealed the project last month, he discussed going public with its true mastermind: Real Madrid’s Florentino Perez, who has developed a $6bn JP Morgan-backed plan.
https://elpais.com/deportes/2020-10-28/el-horizonte-de-una-superliga-sacude-de-nuevo-al-futbol.html
2/9
When Barcelona’s outgoing president Bartomeu revealed the project last month, he discussed going public with its true mastermind: Real Madrid’s Florentino Perez, who has developed a $6bn JP Morgan-backed plan.
https://elpais.com/deportes/2020-10-28/el-horizonte-de-una-superliga-sacude-de-nuevo-al-futbol.html
2/9
Super League talks have happened before. Why is the threat bigger now?
1) Talks over the “international match calendar”
2) the pandemic... but crucially
3) new institutional money, especially from US, in football
3/9
1) Talks over the “international match calendar”
2) the pandemic... but crucially
3) new institutional money, especially from US, in football
3/9
What investors are these?
Henry at Liverpool, Glazers at United. Wall Street lending to Spurs and Inter. Hedge funds, like Elliott at AC Milan.
Investors want steady returns on investment. Not the ups and down in money that come from changing on-pitch performances.
4/9
Henry at Liverpool, Glazers at United. Wall Street lending to Spurs and Inter. Hedge funds, like Elliott at AC Milan.
Investors want steady returns on investment. Not the ups and down in money that come from changing on-pitch performances.
4/9
Ripple effects from the Super League talks.
“Project Big Picture” in England? Partly a move to reduce English matches to make space for more European games.
CVC and Advent want a “breakaway clause” for €1.6bn deal to buy into Italy’s Serie A: https://www.ft.com/content/bbe2bc4f-e31e-43a7-8fb6-70270d8956e6
5/9
“Project Big Picture” in England? Partly a move to reduce English matches to make space for more European games. CVC and Advent want a “breakaway clause” for €1.6bn deal to buy into Italy’s Serie A: https://www.ft.com/content/bbe2bc4f-e31e-43a7-8fb6-70270d8956e65/9
A radical plan to set up a “Meridian League” between the top clubs in Scotland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Ireland have broken down. 
Why?
Because Celtic think current disruption across Europe may open a lucrative path to playing in England instead
6/9
Why?
Because Celtic think current disruption across Europe may open a lucrative path to playing in England instead 6/9
Replying to
@muradahmed
Super League talks fill vacuum from breakdown of talks over changes to Champions League.
That has ramped up again (and *likelier* than a breakaway).
Main idea getting traction is to get rid of the UCL group stages in favour of the “Swiss Model”
7/9
@muradahmed
Super League talks fill vacuum from breakdown of talks over changes to Champions League.
That has ramped up again (and *likelier* than a breakaway).
Main idea getting traction is to get rid of the UCL group stages in favour of the “Swiss Model”
7/9
What’s the Swiss Model?
Replace CL group stages. Instead every team plays 10 matches against 10 different opponents. They all appear on the same league table, the top teams progressing to the latter stages.
8/9
Replace CL group stages. Instead every team plays 10 matches against 10 different opponents. They all appear on the same league table, the top teams progressing to the latter stages.
8/9
The ultimate endgame is the same: more guaranteed European matches. More money to the biggest clubs. And, most likely, greater disparity between football’s giants and the rest.
For more, read the full @FT big read on the future of football here: https://www.ft.com/content/c986a6ff-d653-4e01-aae2-b02d1d9715a9
9/9
For more, read the full @FT big read on the future of football here: https://www.ft.com/content/c986a6ff-d653-4e01-aae2-b02d1d9715a9
9/9
