Punish US billionaires who wanted to destroy our game
BRITAIN and America – two countries, they say, separated by a common language. But this week, due to the sheer greed of several US billionaires, it is not just words that see our two nations divided.
Not since the war of 1812 have tensions between the UK and the US run so high following an assault by American-owned Premier League clubs on our beautiful game. Between the owners of Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal, and several other clubs, their years of disguising greed as benevolence were finally exposed.
On Sunday, it was announced 12 of the biggest clubs in Europe wanted to form a new ‘Super
League’, but there was nothing ‘super’ about their money-grabbing plan.
The ‘Dirty Dozen’ of Europe’s top clubs who signed up already agreed to be part of a midweek competition for at least 23 seasons with the sweetener of up to £300 million each when it starts as early as August.
Anyone who is remotely surprised that the billionaires – Manchester United’s Joel and Avri Glazer, Liverpool’s John Henry or Arsenal’s Stan Kroenke – were the ringleaders of this closed-shop US-style franchise league with no relegation needs their head examining.
The writing had been on the stadium walls for years.
Why else would an American businessman who knows nothing about football, or ‘soccer’ as they call it, get involved in the Premier League?
They don’t excel at the game, it is not a sport the US loves. But where there is money, America’s gluttonous thirst to have it is never far behind.
And now, after years of laying in wait, their end game was finally being confirmed.
It started with increased ticket prices.
But once it became clear those tens of thousands of working class fans passing through the turnstiles each week provided mere pennies on the dollar compared to the millions paying to watch globally on TV, it was always going to change.
But to their shame, they struck amid a global pandemic that has robbed many families of their loved ones and their livelihoods.
It is wrong on every level. Immoral and utterly disgraceful.
If it had gone ahead they should have imposed international bans on players of the clubs.
Imagine telling Ronaldo he can’t play for Portugal in a World Cup? Or telling Harry Kane he won’t captain England at the Euros because he plays for a Super League team? Nobody wanted this league except the owners.
These American billionaires should be met with the disdain they now deserve and given the boot as the game rallies against their proposal.
Fans and footballing authorities rightly condemned it. Governments and even royalty piled in to bring a stop to it.
UEFA and FIFA had vowed to throw the teams taking part out of their competitions, and the Premier League also said the same.
But as the Super League lies in ruins, it should not simply be forgotten.
The clubs who wanted their way should still be punished and their isolation from the footballing community continue.
But, most of all, the clubs’ US billionaire owners need punishing most.
They may be able to bully their way through the NFL and NBA but turning the beautiful game ugly needs to be a red card offence for life.
They should not be welcome in our game any longer.
These American billionaires should be met with the disdain they now deserve
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ONG before the jury came back this week many Americans knew George Floyd was murdered and former police officer Derek Chauvin was guilty.
What was also obvious is that the trial was not just about that one cop and not just about the man he
killed. Policing, which is rarely held accountable in America, was in the dock too.
Following Tuesday’s verdict, the US now has a moment in which to fully address its shame of racial inequities and the prejudices that have occurred ever since the Founding Fathers.
The finding of Chauvin guilty of murder must now accelerate the continued, long journey toward police and criminal justice reform that ensures everyone is treated the same no matter what their skin colour.
Like so many others here, my only fear is that before that day, there will be several George Floyds before true equality is achieved.