European breakaway could pose financial risk to English football
The proposed Super League could pose a "fundamental risk" to England's football system, according to a finance expert at Deloitte.
Twelve clubs from England, Spain and Italy announced on Sunday that they plan to join a breakaway competition.
Timbridgeofdeloitte'ssports Businessgroupfeelsthereisno goingbackfromthestatements, which came on the eve of a vote overanewformatforthechampions League.
"There's clearly something gone on within those discussions around reform of the Champions League that's led to this position," said Bridge.
"There is a very clear statement, 12 clubs who are aligned - they're 12 of the bigger clubs around Europe, the highest revenue-generating, the most influential with the largest fanbases.they'vemadeaveryclear statement of intent and I don't quite know how you go back from that."
Reaction to the announcement was swift and overwhelmingly negative, with Uefa and the three countries' leagues and football associations vowing to stop the new competitionwhileex-liverpool andmanchesterunitedplayers Jamiecarragherandgarynevillebrandedtheirrespectiveformerclubs"anembarrassment" and "a disgrace".
Football Supporters Europe, as well as individual fan groups frommanyoftheclubsinvolved - including United, Liverpool, Manchestercity,chelsea,arsenal and Tottenham - have also condemned the move.
Bridge acknowledged that will worry the clubs but admitbusiness
ted the appeal of the fixtures involved may override all other concerns.
He said: "Probably there will be an element of shock at the response of the European fanbase - I would certainly be concerned,ifiwasinthepositionof theseclubs,atthewaytheircore fans have reacted.
"I would imagine it feels very painful for those fans to see this decision being made at a point where it's been 12 months since most fans went to a match.
"There may be enough confidence that the international market and fans all around the world will want to engage with this competition.
"If I think about Manchester United versus Barcelona at Old Trafford - do I think that game will be sold out? Probably. Do I think it will be on global television? Yes, I do. And do I think there'llbeaclamourfromsponsors to be associated with that type of game? Yes I do.
"So ultimately, I do see the
sense. However, there's some fundamentals thatidon'tunderstandandthat probably need greater consideration than it appears they've been given.
"Thefundamentalriskofwhat this may do to the overall football system is one that I would have hoped is too big to not be considered.
"You could argue that the disparitybetweenaclubinthepremier League and League Two is too big - but the reality is that
the money a League Two club makesatthemoment,aproportion of that comes through the Premierleague,throughasolidarity mechanism. This potentially changes that.
"It's too early to say whether this is a fundamental negative for English football, and European football. But should those six clubs leave the Premier League, the value of English football suddenly falls because thosesixclubsdodrivesomuch of that value."