The news of a European Super League in October was met with eye-rolling among most in the game. At the moment, as it always has been, it is all talk. It was announced around the time reforms to UEFA competitions were to be discussed, to give the clubs an upper hand in negotiating over the confedaration.
This was the same month in which Project Big Picture confirmed the Premier League's top six are cynical enough to use a pandemic as a power-grabbing opportunity. The potential to make even more money, and create more financial inequality in elite football, will drive John W Henry or the Glazers' decisions.
Last week, the Times released a story detailing the proposed new format for the Champions League. It can be disguised as a shake-up to the boring, current format but everything at the top of the game has its roots in owners feathering their nests.
The era of the superclub has seen the finances within football become condensed into a small group that have benefitted from sitting at Europe's top table. There is such a gap between the best and the rest that the current Champions League group stage format of eight groups of four teams is no longer fit for purpose.
The richest teams will qualify. Last season was the first time all 16 teams in the knockout phase came from Europe's top five leagues - the richest. Even now, Real Madrid are in their biggest crisis for decades but can still qualify. Same as Barcelona, who have won all their matches. Same as Juventus, who have only lost to Barcelona.
There is a need for a rethink of the group stages but the "Swiss sytem" is not the answer. 32 or 36 teams will compete in one league and play 10 randomly selected matches: three against the top seeds, two against second and third seeds, and three against the bottom seeds. The top sixteen progress to the knockout stage, with 17th to 24th getting a Europa League spot.
The bigger clubs want more matches against clubs of a similar status. Broadcasters see the attraction. Liverpool vs Real Madrid is more marketable than Liverpool vs Midtjylland. Increasing the number of games between the elite clubs makes these fixtures more likely. There will always be a damaging impact, however.
The owners of the top clubs do not care about the welfare of football, we know that. Everything they do is wrapped in self-interest. For John W Henry, an outsider, why would he want to see his side play Scunthorpe away in the cup when his side can go to the Bernabeu?
Elite football clubs are no longer social institutions. They are corporate entities geared towards making as much money as possible. Nothing is ever done to help lower clubs - a bailout was achieved after Project Big Picture failed - and their situation will continue to get worse.
The League Cup is a way lower league clubs can make money from drawing a big club at home. The same with FA Cup replays. Football's damaging finances will never be dealt with while the rich get richer.
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