European Super League 'unlikely to happen' says Bridlington Town Chairman

Bridlington Town's Chairman says the announcement of a new European Super League in football is not a surprise.

Author: Karen LiuPublished 19th Apr 2021

Bridlington Town's Chairman says the announcement of a new European Super League in football is not a surprise.

But Pete Smurthwaite thinks there is a good chance it will not actually happen.

It is as six English Premier League clubs say they will join six others in Europe to form a new competition.

Pete said:

"I wasn't really surprised because there's been talk of it perhaps for a year or 18 months, and it's just very wealth clubs again wanting to dominate football in some kind of semi-devious manner I think so it doesn't surprise me.

"It's more like a licencing system whereas we've also been used to a pyramid system in football so this appears to be turning towards the American system of sport, where there's no promotion or relegation 'he who pays the piper calls the tune' type system.

"This system now to me it's just the clubs are actually wanting to take advantage of their worldwide fanbase, and they aren't that bothered about those 50,000-60,000 people who are mainly passholders who turn up on a Saturday and Tuesday evening in to the ground.

"I do think it's sabre-rattling because I can't see how FIFA and the current Premier League are going to allow the clubs to do this without some kind of kickback about it because it's going to affect their competitions isn't it? I don't think it will take place, no. I think there's far too many complications for it to take place."

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