Players & managers react to the Super League

[Tapori]

It will be interesting to see if any of the major players/managers band together (behind the backs of their clubs, just as the clubs did to them and fans) and come out against this. It is feasible (not likely, but feasible) that the below outspoken players could form the leadership of a group that speaks out against this. For the players and managers they will be paid astronomical wages whether they are in a Super League or whether they play in the Champions League. I get that the pay for them would increase, but I do think some players still have base level morals. Imagine the power of the following group of players speaking out:
United: Rashford/Bruno/Pogba
City: Pep/KdB/Sterling
Liverpool: Henderson/Van Dijk/Salah/Klopp/Mane
Chelsea: Pulisic
Arsenal: Aubameyang
Tottenham: Kane/Son
Juve: Pirlo/RONALDO
Inter: Conte/Lukaku
AC Milan: Ibrahimovic
Real: Zidane/Modric/Ramos
Barca: Pique/MESSI
Atleti: Simeone/Suarez

If you take that group they represent virtually every corner of the globe Europeans (Kane, Ramos, Pogba etc), Asians (Son), Americans (Pulisic), Middle East (Salah), Africa (Mane/Auba). They hold huge weight, if they spoke out against this the Super League would lose all gravitas very very quickly.

Do you guys think this is possible or do you think the clubs hold too much power over the players? They would have to ensure they were all in together before going public with their views on it because otherwise they would risk having their contracts terminated.

As any good union official or lawyer will tell you; it entirely depends on their employment contracts and jurisdiction of that contract.

Simply put: If literally all the players refuse to play in the ESL but continue their commitment to play in the officially licensed competitions, I would, as a complete layman, contend they would have a massive collective bargaining case against the ESL clubs.

The ESL would withold wages but this would literally be challenged under Employment Law UK and EU wide.

Have the players signed up as employees or private contractors?
What is the contract between them and their clubs in terms of the expected service the players provide?
Can the ESL clubs withold full salary or terminate contracts for not participating in an unsanctioned league if the players continue to abide by the contract of playing in licensed competitions?

Better yet, if ever there was a time to form a players and managers pan-global workers union it should and would be now.
If there is a will then there is a way. Would be immense.

No-one has mentioned the players; No players = no ESL.

 

[arnie_ni]

They're kidding themselves if they think this and their agents can't possibly be that stupid. If these 12-15 clubs create a closed shop there's nothing in their way to limit player salaries like all US teams do. The purpose will be to maximise profits for the owners and they won't be doing that by increasing player salaries (Which is already the highest expense of these "corporations").

They already have limited it. 55 percent of income. Next itl be an actual salary cap figure.

 

[Tincanalley]

James Corden makes the point well. They didn't consult a single fan, manager, player. They are a small cabal. They want to shut up shop. Even Klopp's soft-voiced resistance "I am not happy" "The players or me did not know about it" "The most important part of football are fans/ players/ team" needs praise. Bruno needs praise. It's not easy for them. But well done for having the balls. Ole, oh well.

 

[Tincanalley]

https://sifted.eu/articles/louis-saha-european-super-league/
Louis Saha

 

[Port Vale Devil]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

 

[Tincanalley]

The PFA:

The PFA has substantial concerns regarding the wide-ranging implications of the proposed European Super League concept.
Football should strive to preserve the sanctity of a competitive domestic league above all else. Aspiration and sporting merits are an essential part of any sport and a vital component of the game we love.
This proposed move would detract from the strength and joy of domestic football and diminish the game for the vast majority of fans across the continent.
Clubs across all domestic competitions are not equal, each having differing financial starting points. However, success is never guaranteed, often cyclical and always earned. We have seen countless examples around Europe of teams outperforming their resources. In recent years, at home in the Premier League, this has resulted in unrivalled global entertainment and sporting drama.
A system that rewards all clubs for success is paramount. In England, we are privileged to enjoy the most professional teams, the most professional players and in normal times, the highest aggregate attendances across the world. This success is achieved by working together and in solidarity.
The PFA will work with players, The FA, Premier League, EFL, LMA and through FIFPRO, with other players' associations, to represent the game's best interests and protect the integrity of football.

 

[Giggsyking]

Those players are hypocrites, talking about the game of the poor when they get in one week what a doctor get in salary in 10 years.

 

[Tincanalley]

Tweet

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Fair play, James Milner

 

[Tincanalley]

Those players are hypocrites, talking about the game of the poor when they get in one week what a doctor get in salary in 10 years.

False equivalence. Bullshit.

 

[Sky1981]

Regardless of the clubs have done right or wrong, it's another subject. Still I don't get why there are people who support Fifa/Uefa/domestic governing body to ban the players from WC or Euro. They're actually just professional workers who are respecting their contracts. If Fifa/Uefa have any issue with the ESL, they should target those 12 clubs not the players I think.

Why not? EsL simply banned the rest and locked it to the original 12.

If UEFA is corrupt what do you call ESL?

 

[Tom Cato]

Ramifications for players and managers is the same as the rest of us if we disagree with our compnay's policy, we resign or we continue in post.
Now if we take the 6 English clubs first team squads that is around 120 players. Now if they all said this move breeches their contracts of employments, making them null and void so we are (a) resigning ( b) with drawing our labour. (c) free agents to approach other clubs.
What could the clubs do, bring legal actions for breech of contract, ( expensive and time consuming ), fine them, difficult if no longer under contract plus I would expect more expensive and time consuming legal actions.
The legal arguments could tie up the clubs for a long time, plus the problem of completing the footballing commitments with again legal consequences.
In fact the power to stop this is within the hands of the players of these clubs if they have the strength to carry them through.

No, this isnt how football contracts work. The players have real liability during their contracted period as valuable company assets

 

[Mike Smalling]

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Fair play, James Milner

Yeah, respect him for that. Since he is at the tail-end of his career it is of course a bit easier for him to speak out, but he still deserves credit for being that open with his opinion.

Would still love to see some more player and manager reactions, to be honest. Everything is still a bit quiet.

 

[Wednesday at Stoke]

On the plus side, all it takes is for players and fans to change the minds of one of five clubs like United, Liverpool, Real, Juventus or Barca and the rest of the lot will fall like a house of cards.

 

[kouroux]

https://sifted.eu/articles/louis-saha-european-super-league/
Louis Saha

"streaming demand being proven for these matches, even from empty stadia, perhaps has made football club owners think that local fans are dispensable."

Covid accelerated what they were planning for, they never cared about fans. They always pretended to do

 

[Tincanalley]

"streaming demand being proven for these matches, even from empty stadia, perhaps has made football club owners think that local fans are dispensable."

Covid accelerated what they were planning for, they never cared about fans. They always pretended to do

There are words i want to use @kouroux but @Penna would not approve

 

[Tincanalley]

On the plus side, all it takes is for players and fans to change the minds of one of five clubs like United, Liverpool, Real, Juventus or Barca and the rest of the lot will fall like a house of cards.

Brilliant thought. You are not just a clever name!

 

[kouroux]

There are words i want to use @kouroux but @Penna would not approve

I feel like what we're seeing nowadays (empty stadiums) will stay for a long time, regardless of covid.

 

[Tom Cato]

James Corden makes the point well. They didn't consult a single fan, manager, player. They are a small cabal. They want to shut up shop. Even Klopp's soft-voiced resistance "I am not happy" "The players or me did not know about it" "The most important part of football are fans/ players/ team" needs praise. Bruno needs praise. It's not easy for them. But well done for having the balls. Ole, oh well.

Ole was asked literally a couple hours after the media started talking about it. Maybe give the man some time to reflect?

 

[Giggsyking]

False equivalence. Bullshit.

Not false. Real equivalent. The players should keep their mouth shut. They cant have it both ways. They think they are valuable and deserve to get payed 100k per week but at the same time they think the owners do not have the same right to do the same, hypocrisy at its highest level. If the think it is unfair and against the morals that small clubs to be excluded from a super league, then how is it fair a football player make more money in a week than a doctor in 5 years? Because they are stealing the game from the poor as well as the clubs. The only one who has the right to talk is the fans. I am mostly against the super league but I dont think the rich players are the example to lead.

 

[bsCallout]

I feel like what we're seeing nowadays (empty stadiums) will stay for a long time, regardless of covid.

Why?

 

[kouroux]

Why?

Or at least the stadiums will be filled with ultra rich people as I don't see ticket prices get cheaper any time soon. May as well as be empty

 

[Annihilate Now!]

Yeah

That's a) Not Beckhams fault and b) How the American system works. If there aren't enough professional teams for a football pyramid then what can you do?

Also this - https://bleacherreport.com/articles...mls-promotion-relegation-it-makes-it-exciting

 

[DWelbz19]

Not false. Real equivalent. The players should keep their mouth shut. They cant have it both ways. They think they are valuable and deserve to get payed 100k per week but at the same time they think the owners do not have the same right to do the same, hypocrisy at its highest level. If the think it is unfair and against the morals that small clubs to be excluded from a super league, then how is it fair a football player make more money in a week than a doctor in 5 years? Because they are stealing the game from the poor as well as the clubs. The only one who has the right to talk is the fans. I am mostly against the super league but I dont think the rich players are the example to lead.

Ignoring all the false equivalency at the start of the post -- the players are exactly the ones to lead, because we can clearly see these owners do not give a flying feck about the fans. It has to come from the players and managers, realistically.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Those players are hypocrites, talking about the game of the poor when they get in one week what a doctor get in salary in 10 years.

Wrong

 

[Annihilate Now!]

Not false. Real equivalent. The players should keep their mouth shut. They cant have it both ways. They think they are valuable and deserve to get payed 100k per week but at the same time they think the owners do not have the same right to do the same, hypocrisy at its highest level. If the think it is unfair and against the morals that small clubs to be excluded from a super league, then how is it fair a football player make more money in a week than a doctor in 5 years? Because they are stealing the game from the poor as well as the clubs. The only one who has the right to talk is the fans. I am mostly against the super league but I dont think the rich players are the example to lead.

You know if Footballers didn't earn their salaries (which I would contend 90% fully deserve) then it would just go to line the pockets of the owners anyway?

Also, just because you earn money from playing football, doesn't mean you can't speak out about how you believe the competition should be run. If anything - considering it directly effects their work - shouldn't they have a divine right to speak out?

 

[Giggsyking]

Ignoring all the false equivalency at the start of the post -- the players are exactly the ones to lead, because we can clearly see these owners do not give a flying feck about the fans. It has to come from the players and managers, realistically.

Eric Cantona said the Fans are the most important thing, not the fecking greedy players and the clubs shuold ask the fans. The players are just as greedy as the owners. The clubs should ask the fans. They are the only thing that matters in football. Mesut Ozel hold his club Randsom for the salary he got (despite he is being payed very much) to get an even bigger salary, what deference that make from the greedy owners?

 

[Tom Cato]

Not false. Real equivalent. The players should keep their mouth shut. They cant have it both ways. They think they are valuable and deserve to get payed 100k per week but at the same time they think the owners do not have the same right to do the same, hypocrisy at its highest level. If the think it is unfair and against the morals that small clubs to be excluded from a super league, then how is it fair a football player make more money in a week than a doctor in 5 years? Because they are stealing the game from the poor as well as the clubs. The only one who has the right to talk is the fans. I am mostly against the super league but I dont think the rich players are the example to lead.

Unless you are going the route of Greta and intend to start a global movement by sitting alone on the street with a sign, maybe you can spend some of that time reflecting on what kind of mechanisms that dictate social change in the technology age. THINGS SUCH AS PUBLIC REACH!

You know, this is one of the very few things in this world that truly, truly infuriate me. We, the fans NEED help from anyone that has a platform that can speak out and reach masses. I don't have 4 million followers on my instagram account, if I were to pay for that kind of reach I'd have to fork out $100,000 in advertising.

I simply refuse to aknowledge that you are this daft that you don't understand how finances in football work. But it's not even about that. This is about the sanctity of competition, something the ESL is going to destroy the moment it opens up and ensures that 15 teams have a god given right to be in the competition, win or lose.

For ONCE the fans have an opportunity to field a united front and support one cause, and yet there are human beings here that are so utterly asinine in their beliefs that they won't accept help when given.

Go on then, I expect to see your interview in The Guardian tomorrow morning, making your voice heard to fans and friends alike.

If you're not going to do that, how about you focus on something productive instead?

 

[bsCallout]

Or at least the stadiums will be filled with ultra rich people as I don't see ticket prices get cheaper any time soon. May as well as be empty

Excluded the deluded 12 that signed of for this, I can't think any stadium will be empty. They'll be packed. Did you see how quick the pubs were flooded?

People just want to get back to doing what they've always done.

The only ones that might not be there short term are tourists. In my opinion of course.

 

[Tincanalley]

It will be interesting to see if any of the major players/managers band together (behind the backs of their clubs, just as the clubs did to them and fans) and come out against this. It is feasible (not likely, but feasible) that the below outspoken players could form the leadership of a group that speaks out against this. For the players and managers they will be paid astronomical wages whether they are in a Super League or whether they play in the Champions League. I get that the pay for them would increase, but I do think some players still have base level morals. Imagine the power of the following group of players speaking out:
United: Rashford/Bruno/Pogba
City: Pep/KdB/Sterling
Liverpool: Henderson/Van Dijk/Salah/Klopp/Mane
Chelsea: Pulisic
Arsenal: Aubameyang
Tottenham: Kane/Son
Juve: Pirlo/RONALDO
Inter: Conte/Lukaku
AC Milan: Ibrahimovic
Real: Zidane/Modric/Ramos
Barca: Pique/MESSI
Atleti: Simeone/Suarez

If you take that group they represent virtually every corner of the globe Europeans (Kane, Ramos, Pogba etc), Asians (Son), Americans (Pulisic), Middle East (Salah), Africa (Mane/Auba). They hold huge weight, if they spoke out against this the Super League would lose all gravitas very very quickly.

Do you guys think this is possible or do you think the clubs hold too much power over the players? They would have to ensure they were all in together before going public with their views on it because otherwise they would risk having their contracts terminated.

Some very different people in there. Some very idealistic and thoughtful and outspoken. Some just interested in themselves. They know who they are

 

[amolbhatia50k]

It would be great to see some big players and managers take a real stand on this let's face it, they have feck all say, they're just employees at the end of the day.

I'd like Sir Alex to properly condemn it though. He has nothing to lose and so far just mentioned the importance of European football.

 

[bsCallout]

Eric Cantona said the Fans are the most important thing, not the fecking greedy players and the clubs shuold ask the fans. The players are just as greedy as the owners. The clubs should ask the fans. They are the only thing that matters in football. Mesut Ozel hold his club Randsom for the salary he got (despite he is being payed very much) to get an even bigger salary, what deference that make from the greedy owners?

Genuinely, why are the players greedy? For getting paid what they are worth? For making sure they get their cut instead of the owners getting it all?

It's a nice sentiment from Cantona but the only way the fans have an impact is by influencing the players.

We have no idea the story behind Ozil, but he was the one that paid for their mascot when the rich owners were getting rid. Perhaps it's not as simple as him holding them ransom.

 

[kouroux]

Excluded the deluded 12 that signed of for this, I can't think any stadium will be empty. They'll be packed. Did you see how quick the pubs were flooded?

People just want to get back to doing what they've always done.

The only ones that might not be there short term are tourists. In my opinion of course.

The cost isn't nearly the same. If stadiums fill themselves with crowd, it will be different than before (pure speculation tbh).

 

[Tincanalley]

Goal.com reporting Beckham insta post:

"I’m someone who loves football. It has been my life for as long as I can remember," the former Manchester United, Real Madrid and England winger, who is now a co-owner of MLS outfit Inter Miami, wrote on Instagram.

"I loved it from when I was a young child as a fan, and I’m still a fan now. As a player and now as an owner I know that our sport is nothing without the fans.

"We need football to be for everyone. We need football to be fair and we need competitions based on merit.

"Unless we protect these values the game we love is in danger..."

 

[Giggsyking]

Unless you are going the route of Greta and intend to start a global movement by sitting alone on the street with a sign, maybe you can spend some of that time reflecting on what kind of mechanisms that dictate social change in the technology age. THINGS SUCH AS PUBLIC REACH!

You know, this is one of the very few things in this world that truly, truly infuriate me. We, the fans NEED help from anyone that has a platform that can speak out and reach masses. I don't have 4 million followers on my instagram account, if I were to pay for that kind of reach I'd have to fork out $100,000 in advertising.

I simply refuse to aknowledge that you are this daft that you don't understand how finances in football work. But it's not even about that. This is about the sanctity of competition, something the ESL is going to destroy the moment it opens up and ensures that 15 teams have a god given right to be in the competition, win or lose.

For ONCE the fans have an opportunity to field a united front and support one cause, and yet there are human beings here that are so utterly asinine in their beliefs that they won't accept help when given.

Go on then, I expect to see your interview in The Guardian tomorrow morning, making your voice heard to fans and friends alike.

If you're not going to do that, how about you focus on something productive instead?

I never said the ESL is a good Idea, What I said, is that players should choose their words carefully. Most of them are greedy people and do the exact thing as their owners when they get the chance to get more money. But if a player choose to be a platform for the public and let the public use his platform then and only then you know their intentions (like what Rashford did). Just tell me how many players in the big teams talked in public? very few because they are afraid to lose money (fines) if they upset the club owners. I respect Bruno because he is the only one from the top six who in some degree criticized it. Otherwise the only ones you hear them talk is players from teams outside the top six.

 

[Wewinsoon]

It would be great to see some big players and managers take a real stand on this let's face it, they have feck all say, they're just employees at the end of the day.

I'd like Sir Alex to properly condemn it though. He has nothing to lose and so far just mentioned the importance of European football.

Sir Alex have seen changes, and honestly why and what would he have against a superleague hosted by the clubs instead of UEFA taking a big cut of the money?

 

[RatPack]

The players will not stop this. Most of them is as greedy as the clubs.
Only the fans can hurt the clubs by staying away (also from the TV matches) and saving their money. Completely ignoring these 12-15 teams.
But that is not going to happen. The fans will crumble as in the past and keep watching.

 

[Tom Cato]

I never said the ESL is a good Idea, What I said, is that players should choose their words carefully. Most of them are greedy people and do the exact thing as their owners when they get the chance to get more money. But if a player choose to be a platform for the public and let the public use his platform then and only then you know their intentions (like what Rashford did). Just tell me how many players in the big teams talked in public? very few because they are afraid to lose money (fines) if they upset the club owners. I respect Bruno because he is the only one from the top six who in some degree criticized it. Otherwise the only ones you here them talk is players from teams outside the top six.

It's easy to say that they are afraid to lose money, and criticize the players for not voicing their opinion.

But player contracts have REAL liability that extends beyond fines. Fines is the first measure a club have for rulebreach, it extends all the way to contract termination for engaging in activity that can damage a clubs reputation. There is a long way to go from there to there, but you have to understand that this is not the type of situation that people can just go blindly into. What they feel about it should be pretty obvious from Milners reaction yesterday. Milner spoke because he got put on the spot, same with Klopp. Let's wait for others to follow suit, and maybe then the first player will use his platform and risk it all.

The fans need all the help they can get, and at this point I don't care where it comes from. Help is help.

 

[Tom Cato]

Genuinely, why are the players greedy? For getting paid what they are worth? For making sure they get their cut instead of the owners getting it all?

It's a nice sentiment from Cantona but the only way the fans have an impact is by influencing the players.

We have no idea the story behind Ozil, but he was the one that paid for their mascot when the rich owners were getting rid. Perhaps it's not as simple as him holding them ransom.

Mesut Özil donates a TON of money to charity. He's been donating money for many years, never speaks about it, and does an actual difference for people in need.

https://www.google.com/search?q=ozil+donates+to+charity&oq=Özil+donates&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0i22i30l4.2670j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

He's on big wages, but to the surprise of everyhone who is an asshole anyway, he's got an equally big heart.

"The Way Özil Spent the Money he Refused to Give Up
Özil donated money to support people in need all across the globe after rejecting Arsenal’s pay cut. Homeless shelters and schools in North London received nutritious food in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, he increased his financial contributions to the BigShoe project to provide children with much-needed surgeries. He also donated $111,542 to the Turkish Red Crescent in May 2020. The money went toward feeding families in Turkey and Syria during Ramadan. Mesut Özil’s charity work also introduced a new range of footwear and donated all of the money that the footwear earned. It granted children in Italy access to digital education materials during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fans and the media continue to criticize Özil’s refusal of the pay cut. Many consider the money he donated to impoverished communities to be more important than giving it back to Arsenal. However, Özil’s charity work has had an undeniable positive impact on many people’s lives.

– Bianca Adelman"

Here, I'll link someone who is ACTUALLY a greedy man: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_Kroenke

 

[bsCallout]

Mesut Özil donates a TON of money to charity. He's been donating money for many years, never speaks about it, and does an actual difference for people in need.

https://www.google.com/search?q=ozil+donates+to+charity&oq=Özil+donates&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0i22i30l4.2670j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

He's on big wages, but to the surprise of everyhone who is an asshole anyway, he's got an equally big heart.

"The Way Özil Spent the Money he Refused to Give Up
Özil donated money to support people in need all across the globe after rejecting Arsenal’s pay cut. Homeless shelters and schools in North London received nutritious food in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, he increased his financial contributions to the BigShoe project to provide children with much-needed surgeries. He also donated $111,542 to the Turkish Red Crescent in May 2020. The money went toward feeding families in Turkey and Syria during Ramadan. Mesut Özil’s charity work also introduced a new range of footwear and donated all of the money that the footwear earned. It granted children in Italy access to digital education materials during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fans and the media continue to criticize Özil’s refusal of the pay cut. Many consider the money he donated to impoverished communities to be more important than giving it back to Arsenal. However, Özil’s charity work has had an undeniable positive impact on many people’s lives.

– Bianca Adelman"

Here, I'll link someone who is ACTUALLY a greedy man: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_Kroenke

I'm not surprised. People don't like to believe that people with so much money can also be some of the most generous. Players deserve to get their worth, in my opinion.

 

[Giggsyking]

Mesut Özil donates a TON of money to charity. He's been donating money for many years, never speaks about it, and does an actual difference for people in need.

https://www.google.com/search?q=ozil+donates+to+charity&oq=Özil+donates&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0i22i30l4.2670j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

He's on big wages, but to the surprise of everyhone who is an asshole anyway, he's got an equally big heart.

"The Way Özil Spent the Money he Refused to Give Up
Özil donated money to support people in need all across the globe after rejecting Arsenal’s pay cut. Homeless shelters and schools in North London received nutritious food in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, he increased his financial contributions to the BigShoe project to provide children with much-needed surgeries. He also donated $111,542 to the Turkish Red Crescent in May 2020. The money went toward feeding families in Turkey and Syria during Ramadan. Mesut Özil’s charity work also introduced a new range of footwear and donated all of the money that the footwear earned. It granted children in Italy access to digital education materials during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fans and the media continue to criticize Özil’s refusal of the pay cut. Many consider the money he donated to impoverished communities to be more important than giving it back to Arsenal. However, Özil’s charity work has had an undeniable positive impact on many people’s lives.

– Bianca Adelman"

Here, I'll link someone who is ACTUALLY a greedy man: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_Kroenke

How many players are like Ozel? Maybe I should have chosen another player as an example. But you understand my general idea. Players of the actual big six should open their fecking mouths and talk.