Emergence of a new Super League?

UEFA and FIFA have been stamping their authority all over the place before all the major clubs have even started their official season properly.

First, the diving ban on Arsenal's Eduardo, then a curb on club spending which will affect perennial big spenders like Manchester City and Real Madrid, and now a rule on exploiting young talent which could force bans on most clubs with a youth policy like Chelsea and Manchester United.

In what is the third event outside of the game that could affect the top footballing clubs, FIFA has decided to ban Chelsea from purchasing any new player for two years or two transfer window periods for allegedly tapping on the youth system of a smaller French club to recruit the promising youngster Gael Kakuta.

Two transfer windows with no new players is a big problem for a club like Chelsea. With no new blood to compete at Chelsea, it will be harder for them to challenge for top honors in the next two seasons. And with the team ageing and new coach Ancelotti eager to acquire new talent like his young protege Alexandre Pato from AC Milan to inject youthfulness at the club, the ban is set to derail Russian owner Abramovich's plans of winning a European Champions League trophy.

Which brings me to my point, how long will it take before the dawn of a new European Super League? With Michel Platini at the helm of UEFA, the top clubs are increasingly unhappy at the policies that have been introduced by the Frenchman. In truth, Platini has consistently upset the super-rich clubs by trying to bring some equilibrium to club football. These series of events and new changes could potentially trigger off a new super league albeit a private league set up by the superpowers of football, with the likes of Real Madrid and Man Utd clashing on a weekly basis, rather than the occasional European match.

Though I am no big fan of a super league, since the smaller clubs are likely to be ostracized, imagine what it would be like if UEFA keeps pushing the limits. No matter how authoritative the governing body is, the big clubs and their players are what fans and broadcasters look out for. They, the superpowers of club football hold the true power. I liken this scenrio to the recent Formula 1 saga, when the major racing teams (Renault and Ferrari) with the backing of their billionaire funders and legions of fans managed to overturn a ruling made by the top man at FIA, Max Mosely and force what will eventually be his resignation.

So I say UEFA must thread their grounds carefully. They do not want a potential showdown with the major clubs like Arsenal, Chelsea or Real Madrid to decide the future of European football, because the outcome is the very likelihood that a super league can be formed and do just as well if not better than the current leagues in Europe. With the powers gone, a league comprising of Hull City, Burnley and Wigan just do not seem enticing or market-worthy to TV fans at all when compared to the elite of world football competing on a regular basis. If that outcome happens, UEFA will disappear into anoymity in no time. UEFA can only lose in a such a scenario.

Honestly, Platini needs to learn control over his French temper and be more cautious and strategic in his approach to implementing changes. Too many at a time and you risk a potential backlash, a serious one that could happen if pushed hard enough.