Nothing ‘Super’ about the ESL…

FAIR GAME calls on clubs to unite for positive football governance

FAIR GAME, which aims to ensure football is governed with fairness, openness and transparency, has called on football clubs to ‘seize the moment’ and unite to bring collective change to governance which works for the good of the game.

The failure of the European Super League project has, thus far, proven short-lived. Fair Game hopes that the obvious greed and self-interest demonstrated by the self-titled ‘Big Six’ will make clubs at all levels consider their governance structures to ensure their sustainability, integrity of our competitions, and that they are deep rooted in their own communities.

Fair Game already has the confirmed support of several clubs including Accrington Stanley, Grimsby Town, Luton Town, Newport County and AFC Wimbledon and is in advanced talks with another 20.

Niall Couper, Director, Fair Game said:

“While the ESL proposals were brief for now, the abomination that was mooted represents all that is wrong about the modern game.

“The integrity of the pyramid is sacrosanct. The elite wanted to pull up the drawbridge. And what would have come next? A resurrection of B sides? Closure of promotion and relegation elsewhere? 

“It should never have been able to even get off the drawing board. We need strong independent regulation.

“The move also ran roughshod over our fans. Football clubs are bastions of history and tradition enshrined in the communities they serve. Our strength lies in listening to our supporters. Thankfully the ‘Big Six’ heard and withdrew.

“For the sake of 30 or so pieces of silver, the Beautiful Game was on the verge of being betrayed and sold down the river.

“We now call on clubs throughout the land to support the proposals Fair Game has put forward. 

“We need a game that is built on integrity, sustainability, transparency and community. Everything that the ESL was not.”

Proposals struck a dagger to the heart of football

The fact that Bayern Munich, the largest side in Germany where fan ownership of clubs is taken far more seriously, remained entirely absent from the ESL was telling in itself. Fair Game believes that embedded fan engagement at all clubs, and fan representation on boards, is critical to keep clubs rooted in their own communities. 

Where football has an even greater challenge is not in the construction of the power leagues of the Premier League and UEFA Champions League, but of the imbalance and failure of funds to trickle down the system to the lower leagues. That is why, at the same time as billionaire owners seek to make trillions, there’s a juxtaposition with clubs like Dover Athletic, whose chairman has admitted investing £200,000 of his own money to keep his side afloat this season, albeit in relegation to the National League South. 

Fair Game’s intention is to engage in clear and constructive dialogue with the football governing bodies to ensure lasting and sustainable success for football clubs up and down the country.