The Political Economy of Football V2

A European super league and global matches are on their way as Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu hails the relentless march of the globalisation of football. He was talking to Oliver Kay of The Times. He suggested that as it stood many matches in the domestic leagues and even in the Champions League were boring for fans [or at least for global television audiences who are now the watchers that matter]. 'So why not one day have a new format of the Champions League which could also be a new super league within Europe?' He admitted that that La Liga didn't want to reduce matches, 'but it's something that will come in time because, in the end, there will be a demand of the fans.' Perhaps those of the top Spanish clubs, but the others? In my view one of the key markers of the progress of globalisation in football will be whether league matches (not friendlies or special tournaments) are played abroad. La Liga is trying to stage Girona's home fixture...

Oliver Kay had an interesting article in The Times on Saturday about the loss of atmosphere at Premier League grounds. He points out that it is not just a question of crowd noise, but the feel one has when one enters a ground. My sense would be that it is very corporate, as so many things are in so many aspects of life today. There is then an attempt to offset this by marketing measures to create an artificial bond between club and fans (probably seen by the club management as customers). Kay points out that broadcasters all over the world are investing billions in a product they are told is played in a uniquely passionate atmosphere. The fans and the atmosphere they generate are an integral part of 'the show' (itself revealing language) according to Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore. However, Kay comments that it all feels rather disingenuous when the gap between club and fans is bigger than ever. He notes that the revenue-driven approach of the last dec...