Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Comment
Kenan Malik

A culture of greed, riddled with inequality. Global football is a mirror of our age

Fifa Football ESL ECJ UEFA Champions League João Havelange Inequality Sepp Blatter Super League World Cup
Riyad Mahrez kisses the Champions League trophy.
Riyad Mahrez celebrates after Manchester City won the Champions League final against Inter Milan on 10 June 2023. Photograph: Marc Atkins/Getty Images

Nadine Dorries or Jacob Rees-Mogg? Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk? Uefa or the European Super League? Yes, sometimes life seems like a succession of Hobson’s choices.

Last week the European court of justice (ECJ) ruled that Uefa, which oversees European football, and the game’s global body, Fifa, acted unlawfully in threatening sanctions against players and clubs that joined the European Super League (ESL) in 2021. In April of that year, 12 of Europe’s biggest clubs announced the creation of the ESL, a lucrative new competition to rival Uefa’s Champions League, promising clubs even more riches but also freedom from the possibilities of relegation, thereby making those riches permanent.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
More Than 37,000 Squishy Toys Recalled as Water Beads Inside Can Swell in a Child and Evade X-Rays
About 37,480 squishy toys with water beads are recalled. Learn the warning signs of ingestion and why X-rays may miss swallowed beads.
Medical Daily
Medical Daily
Is Store-Bought Rotisserie Chicken Actually Healthy? Here’s What to Check on the Label
A grocery store rotisserie chicken can make dinner easier without the cost of takeout or the work of cooking from scratch. It provides protein and can be used in salads, sandwiches, soups, and family meals throughout the week. However, not every rotisserie chicken has the same nutritional profile. Some contain…
Grocery Coupon Guide
Grocery Coupon Guide
Why Are Eggs Refrigerated in America but Left on the Shelf in Other Countries?
Walk into a grocery store in the United States, and you will find eggs in a refrigerated section. Visit many European grocery stores, however, and eggs may sit on ordinary shelves at room temperature. This difference often surprises American travelers who wonder why the same food requires different storage methods.…
Grocery Coupon Guide
Grocery Coupon Guide
Kim Kardashian Reveals Five Nannies for Four Kids as Kanye West and Bianca Censori Step Out in Los Angeles
Kanye West and Bianca Censori were seen with Playboi Carti at ComplexCon in Los Angeles, shortly after Kim Kardashian discussed raising their four children and using five nannies.
International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
Woman says a male canvasser knocked at her door and wanted to talk pro-life. Then she asked him: ‘Have you ever been pregnant?’
She explained why she is pro-choice.
We Got This Covered
We Got This Covered
Doing Everything Right but Still Have Dull Skin? Here’s Why
If this sounds familiar, it doesn't necessarily mean your skincare routine is bad. Healthy-looking skin depends on much more than the products sitting on your bathroom shelf. Dead skin-cell buildup, dehydration, sun exposure, irritation, lifestyle factors and even using too many active ingredients can all affect how your skin looks.…
MyLifeXP
MyLifeXP
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play