The groundbreaking announcement of the European Super League has been in the headlines throughout the day. Fans across the globe have been lamenting the ‘end of the beautiful game’ as we know it due to the tyranny posed by the tournament. The main reason behind the announcement of such a breakaway competition is assumed to be nothing more than monetary greed.
American investment bank JP Morgan is set to pledge a sum worth €3.5 billion for the participating clubs to make the project a reality. While the winners of the Champions League are paid €120 million, the winners of the European Super League could be paid close to €400 million.
Of the remaining €1.95 billion, €488 million will be handed out in the form of initial payments while €585 million will be paid out based on results. 30% of the payments are expected to go to a club based on their past achievements. Lastly, the amount dished out in the form of add-ons will be €292 million.
TV rights for the proposed tournament are already rumoured to be up for auction. The Super League is expected to bring in much more revenue than the Champions League, projecting a sum worth €10 billion in comparison to UEFA’s €4 billion.
Despite the eye watering figures involved in the breakaway tournament, the players and managers of the clubs that have consented to participating in the tournament must ask themselves whether the reward of competing in the Super League exceeds playing in their domestic leagues and representing their countries in major tournaments.
