The Football Thread 2020/21: Mods plz lock thnx bbz x
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KK
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Guardian wrote:Boris Johnson has promised football groups that the government will consider using what he called “a legislative bomb” to stop English clubs joining a breakaway European Super League, as official efforts to thwart the plan were stepped up.
Guardian ...AND IT'S LIVE! - “If Boris Johnson is so minded,” says Geof Walker, “he only needs to bring forward a short bill banning any football in England other than matches organised by the FA. Such laws are already in place in France and Germany. That would oblige the owners to expatriate their franchises.”
Yes, I wonder if that’s the end goal – matches all over the world played by clubs with no serious geographical base. At that point, I think there’s a strong chance the players refuse to get involved.
The prime minister and Oliver Dowden, the sports and culture secretary, held a meeting with the heads of the Football Association and Premier League, as well as representatives of fans’ groups from Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, three of the clubs involved.
At one point, according to sources, Johnson told the event: “We should drop a legislative bomb to stop it – and we should do it now.”
According to a formal No 10 statement, the prime minister told the online meeting that he would give “unwavering support” to football authorities over the issue, and condemned the ESL’s “closed shop” plan, under which 15 of the 20 league members would have permanent status, and be free from the risk of relegation.
Downing Street said Johnson “was clear that no action is off the table and the government is exploring every possibility, including legislative options, to ensure these proposals are stopped”.
Separately, No 10 confirmed that ministers would consider cutting off support for breakaway clubs in areas such as work visas for overseas players and the policing of matches as a way to exert pressure.
Johnson’s spokesperson declined to specify what possible moves could be taken, saying: “I don’t think you would expect me to have full, worked-out detail one day after that. But we’ve been clear that we are exploring a range of options, including legislative ones.”
Asked if areas such as work visas and policing were being considered, he said: “All these options are on the table at the moment.”
Addressing MPs on Monday, Dowden said the government’s first hope was that football authorities could stop the six English clubs – the other ones to sign up were Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea – from joining the midweek league alongside teams from Spain and Italy.
If that failed, Dowden had said, one option would be to refer the matter to competition authorities over the league’s non-competitive element, with only five of the planned 20 participants being selected annually on merit.
The Competition and Markets Authority watchdog has said it would carefully consider the proposals for the super league, after Labour pressed for an investigation over whether the plans would breach laws to uphold fairness.
Other options include the withdrawal of official support, or longer-term measures to change the governance and ownership structures of English football, potentially including a rule like that used in Germany whereby fans’ groups are guaranteed a majority stake in clubs. No German sides have signed up to the ESL.
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Rex Kramer
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Preezy wrote:Corazon de Leon wrote:I thought Klopp's response was fine. Confirmed he didn't agree with it and reaffirmed his commitment to his players. Guardiola's condemnation is also lovely.
Oh god, Ole is going to completely strawberry float it isn't he
I'd imagine some of these managers have half an eye on their future employability at Europe's top clubs so that's probably not something Ole needs to worry about.
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Hypes
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KK wrote:Guardian wrote:Boris Johnson has promised football groups that the government will consider using what he called “a legislative bomb” to stop English clubs joining a breakaway European Super League, as official efforts to thwart the plan were stepped up.
[i]Guardian ...AND IT'S LIVE! - “If Boris Johnson is so minded,” says Geof Walker, “he only needs to bring forward a short bill banning any football in England other than matches organised by the FA.
JOHNSON BANS KICKABOUTS IN PARKS
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Lex-Man
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Preezy wrote:Ooh I take it back, fair play Pep.
Although saying that - they keep saying they don't have all the information, how the strawberry float has he not been on the phone to the owners as soon as he'd finished his egg & soldiers this morning getting all the information?
I'm guessing the owners won't say anything because they're terrified of leaks. If he asked he be told they have nothing to announce.
Amusement under late capitalism is the prolongation of work.
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Corazon de Leon
Cuttooth wrote:Pancake wrote:Corazon de Leon wrote:I thought Klopp's response was fine. Confirmed he didn't agree with it and reaffirmed his commitment to his players. Guardiola's condemnation is also lovely.
Agreed. Pleased to see both of them show some spine, unlike Tuechel. I hope Ole and Arteta show the same spine.
I expect Arteta will try to copy Guardiola with a few words changed, but will manage to instead come across as a ringing endorsement of Arsenal's place in the new ESL.
I dunno why but this broke me, was proper cackling at the screen after reading it.
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Cuttooth
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twitter.com/MikeKeegan_DM/status/1384492077149417478
It's the Mail so who knows.
Do the club captains have a meeting every now and then?
