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Comment by tchalla | Hacker News Reader

It's interesting so many fans had an emotional reaction to a for-profit club playing in another for-profit league. Entertainment truly has a grip on human civilisation.

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As far as I have understood, the case is more that the current ecosystem ranging from complete novices and amateurs to the absolute pros would be segregated at the top level.

As it is right now, you could open your own football club with your buddies, and advance some 10-20 times and be in the top league.

The segregation of top teams across all divisions is pretty much how the Premier League was formed.

> The fundamental difference between the old Football League and the breakaway league (what became the Premier League) is that the money in the breakaway league would only be divided between the clubs active in that division whilst in the previous arrangement it was shared between all Football League clubs across all divisions.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundation_of_the_Premier_Leag...

The difference being that all teams were subject to relegation if they did not perform.

That difference is pretty much irrelevant given that it's the last 3-4 teams that face relegation and promotion in a competition of 20-22 teams. In any case, the European Super League is a pan-European league, not a UK league with divisions. You don't like it, you don't watch it. It's entertainment.

Yes the premiership doesn't share its wealth with the lower leagues, there's already a huge element of segregation and exclusivity there. But it's still a huge difference that promotion is possible. Smaller clubs can work their way up. Even within the premiership, these 6 teams are not consistently the best 6. They are trying to use their wealth to exclude in some cases better performing clubs.

Not watching is one option, directly pressuring your club not to join is another. Government regulations are yet another. Thankfully we don't yet live in a world where corporations can do whatever they like and your only recourse is not to watch

There was an option in the European Super League for promotion too. It had 12 + 3 permanent members and 5 who could qualify.

The strangest part is how most people seem to support the unabashedly monopolistic and anticompetitive actions of the country 'club' leagues and UEFA.

Do they support it, or do they tolerate it? If someone comes around and offers and even more anti competitive league, why would people be excited about it?

Super League seems exclusive and divisive, but is definitely pro-competitive, with respect to its relationship with the national leagues and UEFA.

I think you're arguing that it's competitve in an economic sense. But you seem to be missing the point that it's anticompetitive from a sporting perspective (as membership of the league would be on financial merit rather than sporting merit).

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