One called it “the rich stealing what the people created.”
European soccer just got thrown for a loop
The soccer world was rocked on Sunday when 12 of the sport’s top European clubs announced their intention to break away from the UEFA Champions League and
form their own annual competition called the Super League.The prospect of a breakaway league for only the richest of the rich (plus five other teams invited to participate each year) threatens to throw the entire sport off its axis. Teams outside of this select group benefit significantly from the additional revenue associated with Champions League qualification. If the Champions League becomes weakened by the absence of the sport’s premier names, the teams excluded from the new Super League will be screwed out of potential earnings.
The proposal (which still faces some hurdles before officially going into effect) was met instantly with near-unanimous disapproval. UEFA and FIFA threatened to ban every team and player who participates in the Super League from playing in any UEFA- and FIFA-sponsored events, including the World Cup. Domestic leagues have threatened the breakaway clubs with expulsion. Global leaders like the U.K.’s Boris Johnson and France’s Emmanuel Macron denounced the concept, as well as the heads of numerous national soccer federations.
The most powerful rebukes, though, have come from players.
Paris-Saint Germain midfielder Ander Herrera, formerly of Super League co-founder Manchester United, said the new league is “the rich stealing what the people created.”
Here is Mesut Özil, who used to play for another would-be Super League club, Arsenal, and now plays for Fenerbahçe in Turkey:
Dejan Lovren, who moved this season to Zenit Saint Petersburg after several years with Super League co-founder Liverpool, said the concept threatens the entire game of global soccer.
Here is Everton’s Yannick Bolasie:
Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville, now a commentator for Sky Sports, railed against the Super League for three full minutes, calling it “a criminal act against the fans.”
Rio Ferdinand, another United great, said on BT Sport that the plot was “a war on football.”
Luís Figo, who played for three of the teams responsible for the creation of the league (Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter Milan) called out “self-interested owners.”
The proposed Super League will face legal challenges before it could actually go into effect, which means there is plenty of time for fans to make their voices heard on this issue. One of the many things European soccer fans do better than American sports fans is protest against their teams and owners. Liverpool fans have already gathered outside their home stadium and hung up banners denouncing the Super League.
The best of SI
How do non-binary athletes fit into a binary sports world? ... Winners and losers from the WNBA draft. ... Deandre Ayton is having a breakout season for a really good Suns team.
Around the sports world
Soccer fans are up in arms after 12 of the sport’s biggest clubs announced their intention to break away from the Champions League in favor of their own Super League. ... Braves infielder Sean Kazmar made his first major league appearance in 12 years. ... Lydia Ko shot a ridiculous 28 under par, the third-lowest score in LPGA history, to win this weekend’s tournament. ... A fight at Saturday night’s UFC event was called off after one of the fighters was injured during by a shove from his opponent at the weigh-in. ... Joe Buck will reportedly take a turn guest-hosting Jeopardy!.
He never fails to amaze
I literally don’t know what happened
Miles Bridges did it again
You have to love a game-winning catch
Willians Astudillo is a treasure
She better hope Gronk doesn’t try to steal it
Joey Votto’s triple play was so clever it fooled the camera operator
Not sports
A single season of Amazon’s Lord of the Rings TV series will cost a whopping $465 million. ... Hester Ford, the oldest living American, who had 125 great-grandchildren, died at the age of either 115 or 116. ... This British chef hasn’t eaten food in six years due to a rare medical condition. ... TSA discovered a lump of meth inside a person’s burrito at a Houston airport.
A pilot flying a WWII–era plane pulled off a flawless crash landing after a mechanical failure during an air show
A good song
Email dan.gartland@si.com with any feedback or follow me on Twitter for approximately one half-decent baseball joke per week. Bookmark this page to see previous editions of Hot Clicks and find the newest edition every day. By popular request I’ve made a Spotify playlist of the music featured here. Visit our Extra Mustard page throughout each day for more offbeat sports stories.
One called it “the rich stealing what the people created.”
European soccer just got thrown for a loop
The soccer world was rocked on Sunday when 12 of the sport’s top European clubs announced their intention to break away from the UEFA Champions League and form their own annual competition called the Super League.
The prospect of a breakaway league for only the richest of the rich (plus five other teams invited to participate each year) threatens to throw the entire sport off its axis. Teams outside of this select group benefit significantly from the additional revenue associated with Champions League qualification. If the Champions League becomes weakened by the absence of the sport’s premier names, the teams excluded from the new Super League will be screwed out of potential earnings.
The proposal (which still faces some hurdles before officially going into effect) was met instantly with near-unanimous disapproval. UEFA and FIFA threatened to ban every team and player who participates in the Super League from playing in any UEFA- and FIFA-sponsored events, including the World Cup. Domestic leagues have threatened the breakaway clubs with expulsion. Global leaders like the U.K.’s Boris Johnson and France’s Emmanuel Macron denounced the concept, as well as the heads of numerous national soccer federations.
The most powerful rebukes, though, have come from players.
Paris-Saint Germain midfielder Ander Herrera, formerly of Super League co-founder Manchester United, said the new league is “the rich stealing what the people created.”
Here is Mesut Özil, who used to play for another would-be Super League club, Arsenal, and now plays for Fenerbahçe in Turkey:
Dejan Lovren, who moved this season to Zenit Saint Petersburg after several years with Super League co-founder Liverpool, said the concept threatens the entire game of global soccer.
Here is Everton’s Yannick Bolasie:
Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville, now a commentator for Sky Sports, railed against the Super League for three full minutes, calling it “a criminal act against the fans.”
Rio Ferdinand, another United great, said on BT Sport that the plot was “a war on football.”
Luís Figo, who played for three of the teams responsible for the creation of the league (Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter Milan) called out “self-interested owners.”
The proposed Super League will face legal challenges before it could actually go into effect, which means there is plenty of time for fans to make their voices heard on this issue. One of the many things European soccer fans do better than American sports fans is protest against their teams and owners. Liverpool fans have already gathered outside their home stadium and hung up banners denouncing the Super League.
The best of SI
How do non-binary athletes fit into a binary sports world? ... Winners and losers from the WNBA draft. ... Deandre Ayton is having a breakout season for a really good Suns team.
Around the sports world
Soccer fans are up in arms after 12 of the sport’s biggest clubs announced their intention to break away from the Champions League in favor of their own Super League. ... Braves infielder Sean Kazmar made his first major league appearance in 12 years. ... Lydia Ko shot a ridiculous 28 under par, the third-lowest score in LPGA history, to win this weekend’s tournament. ... A fight at Saturday night’s UFC event was called off after one of the fighters was injured during by a shove from his opponent at the weigh-in. ... Joe Buck will reportedly take a turn guest-hosting Jeopardy!.
He never fails to amaze
I literally don’t know what happened
Miles Bridges did it again
You have to love a game-winning catch
Willians Astudillo is a treasure
She better hope Gronk doesn’t try to steal it
Joey Votto’s triple play was so clever it fooled the camera operator
Not sports
A single season of Amazon’s Lord of the Rings TV series will cost a whopping $465 million. ... Hester Ford, the oldest living American, who had 125 great-grandchildren, died at the age of either 115 or 116. ... This British chef hasn’t eaten food in six years due to a rare medical condition. ... TSA discovered a lump of meth inside a person’s burrito at a Houston airport.
A pilot flying a WWII–era plane pulled off a flawless crash landing after a mechanical failure during an air show
A good song
Email dan.gartland@si.com with any feedback or follow me on Twitter for approximately one half-decent baseball joke per week. Bookmark this page to see previous editions of Hot Clicks and find the newest edition every day. By popular request I’ve made a Spotify playlist of the music featured here. Visit our Extra Mustard page throughout each day for more offbeat sports stories.
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