Hello 🙂
Came back to read what everyone was thinking about this and thought I'd throw in my two cents.
I think as several here already said that the initial negative backlash is to be expected and most likely already calculated by the 12 clubs. I also think that UEFA have a lot less power in this than they think and that their initial response basically showed all their cards to everyone. I genuinely think that this will go through and the 12 or 15 will get what they want.
Side note: The hypocrisy of the Premiere League condemning a bunch of big clubs creating a break-away league is quite hilarious 😅
My issue with the opposition to this league is that it all seems as fake shock and outrage that this will make football all about money and not fans as if this hasn't already been the case for decades; as if football hasn't already been destroyed by advertisements and brands when players are making millions and clubs are run like companies. (Cue Garry Neville talking about money alienating real working class football fans on sky-bloody-sports of all places 😂 ) It's all disingenuous because skyports are really (or at least partially) against this because it cuts into their profits, and same goes for UEFA, the PL and even the clubs not included in the league. We all know none of them actually care about the fans, the working class roots of football, or the 'real supporters in this country' whatever the hell that means.
The bottom line is that football including all current top leagues and every single club in them are there to maximize profit and the 12 clubs here are doing just that.
But the thing about this proposed league that I find genuinely threatening to world football is not how much money oriented it is (which to be clear I despise but am resigned to accept as the driving force of football today), it's the attempt at monopolization by the 'founding 15'. The fact that the way the league is built does not allow any of the 15 to ever be relegated is where they probably put their greed over all other interests in my opinion. Because not only would that decrease the motivation and quality in the league over time, I think it would greatly increase animosity towards it. Because one of the very basic and most appealing aspects of competitive sports is that those competing are provided equal chances on a level playing field. Say Leicester and Seville or whoever finish above Arsenal and Tottenham as they likely would in a season like this but they get 'relegated' while the other two stay because they are from the 'founders'. That would have lots of fans losing interest in the league and would increase hate for the clubs that can't get relegated. Take that away level playing field in a sport and you're destroying the fascination in it, imo.
I think overall we're still early days and we're going to hear and learn a lot more about this. Personally, I'm still on the fence about it, but hence why I'm back here!