16 Feb 2021 18:38:14
Hi ed002. Is the new format for the 2024 season of the Champions League their way of trying to make a European Super League first?

{Ed002's Note - It is their attempt to block a breakaway. It favours France and one unkown country (currently it would be Azerbaijan). It is due to be discussed in a few weeks.}

1.) 17 Feb 2021
17 Feb 2021 10:26:41
ESL is inevitable, there is nothing in the 2024 proposal that should appeal to a big European club.
All FIFA have is a threat to ban players from World Cups, but you could argue international football is dying. When 4 million people tune in to watch Bournemouth v Palace last year compared with 3 million for England v Netherlands, then the economics says club football will win eveytime. For comparison, 10 million watched Utd v Liverpool in the FA Cup.

2.) 17 Feb 2021
17 Feb 2021 15:13:57
Grim,

You’re comparing apples and oranges mate, have a look at the viewing figures for the last World Cup and tell me international football is dead.

3.) 17 Feb 2021
17 Feb 2021 20:57:45
The World Cup final was watch by 1.12 billion people, only 500 million watched more the 24 minutes of the game, that is a staggering drop, more people have seen the Tiger King on Netflix. Apparently it was the lowest watched final in the UK since 1981.
International football has been on the decline for many a year. The plethora of meaningless friendlies killed it off. The Nations Cup was meant to reinvigorate interest, but I think it has failed.

4.) 18 Feb 2021
18 Feb 2021 08:19:12
Good points and post grim. I think international football is definitely in decline.

5.) 18 Feb 2021
18 Feb 2021 16:11:49
I didn’t mention the final, England weren’t in the final so you’d expect that to maybe not be watched by as many. Look at the pubs (if open) during the euro’s in the summer, international football is far from dead.