Hope not. It would be the death of Clubs like ours.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/ar ... y27y0jrejo

It’s a serious concern in more ways than one

I've read the BBC article, I don't see any reference to FIFA or UEFA, do these organisations have any authority on the issues mentioned?

It is a concern. I think the EF pyramid is too competitive for American capitalists to endure in the longer term and I suspect they will try and change it.

I have to say that I am looking forward to watching the Championship play off final far more than I did the Spurs v United game. And for the first time I think quality is an issue in the PL. This season has been the worst I've ever watched in terms of quality and entertainment.

I wonder if corporate structures and the use of data is creating teams full of athletic technically proficient individuals who can follow a plan but are just not that entertaining. In particular, United look like a team of individuals who could tick a check box list of what a top footballer should be like but who just don't play at that level on the pitch. They lack every human quality that the likes of Roy Keane refers to on a weekly basis.

It will be interesting to see how a pragmatic manager like SP does against the zombie teams of the PL. Whether we can nullify their athletic and technical prowess particularly in the midfield or we will just be ground into an endless cycle of data driven 1-0 defeats.

It would ruin English football, I'd hope the powers that be see that and won't let it happen.

However, part of me would quite like to see the meltdown from non Clarets if Alan Pace somehow managed to vote us into a closed Premier League to play in the top tier for eternity

ArmchairDetective wrote: ↑

Sat May 24, 2025 7:34 am

It would ruin English football, I'd hope the powers that be see that and won't let it happen.

However, part of me would quite like to see the meltdown from non Clarets if Alan Pace somehow managed to vote us into a closed Premier League to play in the top tier for eternity

If that happened. Burnley FC would cease to exist. We'd be playing season after season of meaningless games. Crowds would drop and that would have the franchise put up for sale, or just moved to a bigger town/city.
Even if we are successful. The same scenario.
Franchise sport puts fans last, very last.
Just look at the NFL. Teams have moved more than a northern rail train!!

RammyClaret61 wrote: ↑

Sat May 24, 2025 9:36 am

If that happened. Burnley FC would cease to exist. We'd be playing season after season of meaningless games. Crowds would drop and that would have the franchise put up for sale, or just moved to a bigger town/city.
Even if we are successful. The same scenario.
Franchise sport puts fans last, very last.
Just look at the NFL. Teams have moved more than a northern rail train!!

You paint a very specific picture, but I agree with the sentiment...

A closed shop would never happen due to anti-competition laws.

Plus the outcry would be so great it would soon collapse. Remember a few years ago when the European superleague was proposed supporters of the big clubs we very much against it.

Too many clubs over here with supporters, franchises in the US are in huge catchment areas and not as many to support.
The college sports are huge over there because they support there local ones like we do our clubs.
You'd have to have maybe 10 franchise's across England for it to work and even then it'd be difficult due to the small size of England.
You could move 'Burnley' anywhere in the UK and you'd only get Burnley fans interested.
It'd never ever work over here no matter how much they pushed it.

RammyClaret61 wrote: ↑

Sat May 24, 2025 9:36 am

If that happened. Burnley FC would cease to exist. We'd be playing season after season of meaningless games. Crowds would drop and that would have the franchise put up for sale, or just moved to a bigger town/city.
Even if we are successful. The same scenario.
Franchise sport puts fans last, very last.
Just look at the NFL. Teams have moved more than a northern rail train!!

Absolutely correct. There is too much competition in the area for the club to grow even in a closed shop. You would still have City and United to the South Leeds to the East and the Merseyside clubs to the West.

I don't think there are any teams that get much less than 70,000

The FA allowed Wimbledon to be franchised because they weren't big enough to bother about. I can't see them letting it happen again, as although it was allowed there was a backlash from fans across the country.

I wouldn't be surprised if Americans try to change it, mainly because most of them have no understanding of our football heritage or culture, not something I would say of AP, he gets it.

Spijed wrote: ↑

Sat May 24, 2025 10:06 am

A closed shop would never happen due to anti-competition laws.

Plus the outcry would be so great it would soon collapse. Remember a few years ago when the European superleague was proposed supporters of the big clubs we very much against it.

The Super League was proposed in such a way that it was certain to be rejected, so that a new idea could be put forward a few years later that is accepted. The new format of the Champions League is a step toward that system, as is allowing 5th placed teams to qualify.
Before you know it, the Super League will have happened without anyone realising.

distortiondave wrote: ↑

Sat May 24, 2025 11:34 am

The Super League was proposed in such a way that it was certain to be rejected, so that a new idea could be put forward a few years later that is accepted. The new format of the Champions League is a step toward that system, as is allowing 5th placed teams to qualify.
Before you know it, the Super League will have happened without anyone realising.

Although I didn't like the idea of a super league, my main objection was because of how it would impact the Prem and pyramid. It would only be a matter of time before the big 6 complained about too many fixtures, and would ask for a reduced Prem, rather than scrapping the SL.

It is an absolute joke the new format of the CL, the number of games played, the number of clubs that qualify.
I would personally love to see Domestic FAs pull out of UEFA, I know it's wishful thinking, but one can live in hope.

distortiondave wrote: ↑

Sat May 24, 2025 11:34 am

The Super League was proposed in such a way that it was certain to be rejected, so that a new idea could be put forward a few years later that is accepted. The new format of the Champions League is a step toward that system, as is allowing 5th placed teams to qualify.
Before you know it, the Super League will have happened without anyone realising.

But how could they stop teams like Bournemouth, Brighton and Brentford getting in at the expense of far bigger clubs who are not in even in a position to qualify (because they are in the Championship).

I can't see how a Super League ever comes to fruition (with no relegation or promotion) when undesirable clubs are outperforming historically bigger ones by some distance.

Spijed wrote: ↑

Sat May 24, 2025 10:06 am

A closed shop would never happen due to anti-competition laws.

Plus the outcry would be so great it would soon collapse. Remember a few years ago when the European superleague was proposed supporters of the big clubs we very much against it.

Only in this country and Germany - the rest were either neutral or supportive - and even fans of the English big six from abroad were supportive of the notion

distortiondave wrote: ↑

Sat May 24, 2025 11:34 am

The Super League was proposed in such a way that it was certain to be rejected, so that a new idea could be put forward a few years later that is accepted. The new format of the Champions League is a step toward that system, as is allowing 5th placed teams to qualify.
Before you know it, the Super League will have happened without anyone realising.

The current Champions League (and European Clun competition model where as many as 6 teams from a single league was voted in by UEFA the day after the Super League was announced - two days later Super League was dead and most of what was wanted was given away by UEFA - It was an act of gross negligence, just as there was a will to fight back against the big clubs - as I said at the time

Spijed wrote: ↑

Sat May 24, 2025 11:49 am

But how could they stop teams like Bournemouth, Brighton and Brentford getting in at the expense of far bigger clubs who are not in even in a position to qualify (because they are in the Championship).

I can't see how a Super League ever comes to fruition (with no relegation or promotion) when undesirable clubs are outperforming historically bigger ones by some distance.

theoretically, the new football governance bill will make it illegal for English clubs - though I am far from sure how that will stand up in court

I'm not a lawyer but I think the legislation that prevents the PL operating a closed shop is dependent largely upon European Court of Justice (CJEU) law making. After Brexit I'm not sure the CJEU has the same role in law making other than acting as a precedent and guide for UK law.

US anti competitive rules allow American sports to argue that their product is dependent upon the closed shop for a more competitive competition.

I guess the new independent body would get involved in this but we've all seen over the years how money, power and influence starts to corrupt Govt bodies.

I think at this point it is unlikely the PL could operate a fully closed shop but let's be honest we are now entering a third PL season where it is hard to see who is going to get relegated. And if that continued then surely the PL could argue that promotion and relegation is reducing the competitiveness of the league and making the product poorer.