It has been crazy for a few days in the football world and when more details emerge regarding the failed Super League, it becomes clear that this was seen as a political and a sporting issue.
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In football terms, the pitch was completely rejected by fans, kennels, players and managers who felt blinded by Sunday’s announcement and saw it as a potential death for the game as we know and love it.
Fans protesting against Super League | Chloe Knott – Danehouse / Getty Images
According to the Times, however, political pressure was a key factor in breaking the Super League plans. One of Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s most trusted aides warned the United Arab Emirates that Manchester City’s participation in the competition would damage relations between the two countries.
Lord Udny-Lister, an envoy to the Gulf, warned the UAE government of the consequences of the proposed outbreak shortly after the announcement and as such escalated the issue to something political.
Manchester City is owned by a group led by Sheikh Mansour, a member of Abu Dhabi’s royal family and Deputy Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates.
Two of the ringleaders in the Super League plans | OLI SCARFF / Getty Images
Fans across the country have received credit for disrupting the project with their strong protests and their role should not be overlooked. But as we learn more and more – it seems as if the plans were destroyed by a number of forces that increase the pressure on those involved.
City were the first Premier League club to officially withdraw from the Super League, although Chelsea had also signaled their intention to do so at the time. We never know how much influence political factors had on their decision to withdraw, but the fact that it escalated to such a level highlights how unwelcome the formation of the league was at all levels.
