Advertisement
Opinion

If football can unify against the European Super League, why not racism?

When the football industry cares about something it has unprecedented power, says Leon Mann. We must make sure the force shown over the European Super League doesn’t go to waste

Unprecedented. Volatile. Strange.

Just three words to describe one of the most incredible weeks football has ever seen.

When, on Sunday night the 12 official club accounts tweeted to declare they were joining a European Super League, it was staggering news. But the way the football industry stood up to the biggest bullies in the playground – and won – was the stuff of Hollywood blockbusters. It took just 48 hours to crush some of the biggest clubs on the planet.

The romantics will say the fans won the day. Fan protests outside grounds, supporter group statements, non-stop negative press coverage and social media outrage clearly made a huge, huge difference. The clubs have recognised that fact and referenced it heavily in their grovelling apologies. Who knew that it was possible to grow a conscience in 48 hours? It showed how quickly football can move when it acts to protect its survival. It was fighting for its life.

Support The Big Issue and our vendors by signing up for a subscription

The cynics, meanwhile, will point to the roles played by the lawyers and senior leaders across FIFA, UEFA, the leagues and national associations. Their aggressive threats to pretty much erase the 12 clubs proposing to break away – and their players – from any form of competition beyond their proposed Euro Billions bonanza showed absolutely no mercy.

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Advertisement

On the TV, star pundits became front line campaigners with rallying cries on a Monday night to stop the European football giants attempt at supermarket sweep at all costs. Direct orders to mobilise were announced live and direct into our living rooms. Then came their impassioned declarations of never working for companies associated with such greed and disregard for what our beautiful game stands for. Bravo! We all cheered. It was box office television. We all lapped it up. They were sensational.

Even the government – taking a quick break from having to sort out a global pandemic – decided to take up the opportunity to get a volley in. A welcome open goal for a Boris toe-punt. They would use their powers to stop this evil threat to our national game. More cheers.

Article continues below

Football had kicked the crap out of the European Super League. And it felt proud as punch and rightly so. What a result!

But now as the dust settles my biggest learning from all of this has been that when football – and all its stakeholders – really care about something or it is threatened this beast of an industry can seriously kick some ass.

So now football has successfully wrestled the money back I want it to suffocate racism, drop kick social media abuse out of our lives and use its muscle to genuinely transform the grassroots of the sport.

We face an opportunity to ensure this crisis doesn’t go to waste. This cannot be the end. It has to be the beginning of a new unified way our industry takes on issues. I tweeted this week that football only really moves into action when the money is impacted. I want to be proven wrong.

Leon Mann is a sports consultant and filmmaker 

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

Never miss an issue

Take advantage of our special subscription offer. Subscribe from just £9.99 and never miss an issue.

Recommended for you

Read All
Mum-of-two shares experience of 'dehumanising' DWP benefits system: 'It could kill somebody'
Image of Naomi Lihou
Benefits

Mum-of-two shares experience of 'dehumanising' DWP benefits system: 'It could kill somebody'

UK's 'cruel' benefits system is 'ruining lives' and 'violating human rights', Amnesty report finds
keir starmer walking
Benefits

UK's 'cruel' benefits system is 'ruining lives' and 'violating human rights', Amnesty report finds

Widower of disabled woman in bitter, years-long legal battle after DWP denied him benefits
Department for Work and Pensions

Widower of disabled woman in bitter, years-long legal battle after DWP denied him benefits

Transphobia and homophobia are terrible for the economy, report finds
London Trans+ Pride
LGBTQ+ rights

Transphobia and homophobia are terrible for the economy, report finds

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue
4.

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue