One of the paradoxes of European football discussed at the recent EU and Sport conference was that the player market has been liberalised but the product market remains nationally tied in the form of leagues organised on a country basis. The Champions League has become very important, of course, but that is available to only a limited number of clubs and the Uefa Cup is not a real money spinner.
One of the paradoxes of European football discussed at the recent EU and Sport conference was that the player market has been liberalised but the product market remains nationally tied in the form of leagues organised on a country basis. The Champions League has become very important, of course, but that is available to only a limited number of clubs and the Uefa Cup is not a real money spinner.
This is particularly a problem for clubs in countries outside the ‘big five’ such as the Netherlands. Smaller countries have suffered a relative decline in their football standing in Europe. A club like PSV Eindhoven could well argue that it would face stronger competition and more challenging matches if it was allowed to play in the Bundesliga. But these smaller leagues would suffer an even greater decline if the top clubs were allowed to department.
The notion of an ‘Atlantic League’ for smaller European nations has been mooted in the past, but has never really got anywhere. However, a cross-border competition already exists in rugby so one might ask why football is so different.
Of course, playing across the border already occurs in the case of the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish competitions. The border town of Berwick is not in Scotland but its football club plays in the Scottish competition. Cardiff City, Swansea City and Wrexham play in English national competitions while The New Saints are in the Welsh League but their ground is in England. Derry City plays in the Irish league. However, these are sub-national entities that happen to have their own associations for historical reasons are really exceptions that prove the rule.