The soccer world was rocked on Sunday when 12 of the sport’s top European clubs announced their intention to break away from the UEFA Champions League and form their own annual competition called the Super League.
The prospect of a breakaway league for only the richest of the rich (plus five other teams invited to participate each year) threatens to throw the entire sport off its axis. Teams outside of this select group benefit significantly from the additional revenue associated with Champions League qualification. If the Champions League becomes weakened by the absence of the sport’s premier names, the teams excluded from the new Super League will be screwed out of potential earnings.