Monday, April 19, 2021
“Cynical and Hypocritical”
Super League repels soccer Germany
German football is unanimously opposed to the plans for a European alliance of twelve to form a Super League. Some clubs respond with ridicule. Lukas Podolski is disappointed with his ex-clubs, Mesut Özil puzzles over childhood dreams.
Football Germany versus Super League: Leading representatives of the top clubs from the 1st and 2nd league and also former national players have unanimously opposed the European Super League planned by twelve top clubs from Spain, Italy and England. The common tenor of the club representatives for the categorical rejection: A super league would damage and probably devalue the Champions League, the most important UEFA competition.
“That wouldn’t be good for football,” said coach Hansi Flick from record champions FC Bayern Munich about the project, in which Jürgen Klopp’s FC Liverpool is also involved. “It is cynical and hypocritical to claim that this is a step for the good of football that meets the wishes of football fans, as the operators of this league are now doing,” said Borussia Mönchengladbach’s managing directors Max Eberl and Stephan Schippers in a joint letter. You spoke of an “attack on UEFA’s club competitions, but also on the national leagues in particular”.
RB Leipzig’s CEO Oliver Mintzlaff reacted in a similar way to the advance of the Alliance of Twelve. “We are advocates of sporting competition.” And that provides in professional football, “that you fight in the national league to achieve a place in the table that entitles you to participate in international competition.” Since the club was founded and promoted from fourth to the Bundesliga within less than ten years, thanks to millions from Red Bull, Leipzig has occasionally overturned the fair competition, as many critics have stated.
“Twice a year, not every week”
The German ex-national players Lukas Podolski and Mesut Özil also sharply criticized. “This project is disgusting, unfair, and I am disappointed that there are clubs that I represented,” said “Poldi” on Twitter. The striker has played for Arsenal and Inter Milan, among others – both of which are founding members of the Superliga. The initiative is an “insult to what I believe in: football is happiness, freedom, passion, fans and for everyone,” wrote Podolski.
“Children grow up dreaming of winning the World Cup and the Champions League – not just any Super League,” said Özil. “The joy of big games is that they only happen once or twice a year, not every week.”
Some clubs reacted with humor. “Nobody has asked us if we want to participate,” joked Greuther Fürth’s trainer Stefan Leitl. Second division rival Darmstadt 98 went even further in the mockery: “Clarification: The # sv98 is not available for a European #SuperLeague. We continue to believe that we can qualify for the European competition in a sporting way. At some point. Maybe”, tweeted the Darmstadt team, who last played in the 1st league from 2015 to 2017, but never in the European Cup.
Coach Robert Klauss from 1. FC Nürnberg reacted particularly harshly. He called the plans “a totally stupid idea” and “catastrophe” for football. The plans of the major clubs are devastating for the smaller clubs – especially during Corona times. He is outraged by the financial problems of all clubs because of the pandemic with games without spectators: “Right now, in the current phase, when the small clubs are having problems, the big clubs are looking to generate even more money. That’s yes Madness!”
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