Jimmy_D

Playing well, looks like Ings is finally starting to get back to match sharpness.

Everyone seems to have shown a bit more against the ESL clubs

GERRIN! Jeez... would have traded that for a bit more attack against Leicester...

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/apr/21/jp-morgan-chase-gets-sustainability-downgrade-standard-ethics-after-funding-failed-super-league

The only source I've seen for that so far is one of the Barca mouthpiece papers. Interested to find out if it's actually true, but at the moment I'm leaning more towards doubting it.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2021/04/21/future-premier-league-tv-deals-could-contain-legal-clauses-prevent/ The last few days may well have been the last chance of a breakaway ESL ever being anything like realistic.

The reason the clubs took the threat from Boris Johnson seriously is that they knew he'd have the full backing of the fans. That would have given him a lot of leeway in terms of bringing in legislation, it would have been a massive vote winner for him. As for never stepping foot inside a stadium...

Between the reputation damage they've taken, as well as the fact it looks like they've gone far enough that they're probably triggering penalty clauses by leaving, it's likely they've blown a fairly sizeable hole in their budget. Considering this was basically a money grab... that went well.

The Neville bit cracks me up

I'd missed this happening before, looks like there are some consequences already starting to hit Liverpool.

https://www.southamptonfc.com/news/2021-04-20/southampton-football-club-statement-european-super-league-april-20th-2021

Barca and Athletico bottling it as well.

Well that was a fun couple of days. Shouldn't be long before all us fans can get back to just insulting each other

They really didn't talk to their own managers and players before this did they? I've seen Klopp, Guardiola, Milner and Rashford all speaking out against it so far.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/apr/19/the-european-super-league-what-can-boris-johnson-do-about-it

I'd imagine it'd be The FA that implement any restrictions. They're also against the ESL.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-56807515

Strong response from the government by the sound of it, looking into every possible mechanism they can to prevent the ESL going ahead.

Still Leicester's I guess? 2015 however...

In terms of the legal position on banning players from playing for their country, England Rugby has had restrictions in their selection policy for a long time now. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/32626996

Moving for more money is one thing, at their level it's almost more like just keeping score, but if it's a choice between having more money than you can spend, and playing for your country, or having even more money than you can spend, and being prevented from playing for your country? That's probably the sanction most likely to prevent this going ahead.

Looks like they'll also be kicking the clubs from their competitions. If they stick to it it'll be like going to play in China, plenty of money in it but no real glory. I dreamed of being a professional footballer as a kid. Never had any chance of making it, but for me there was no amount of money that would have made me give up a chance of playing for England.

UEFA's president appears to have confirmed that any players that play in the ESL will be barred from World Cups and Euros.