The European Super League might have failed to get off the ground this week but now Rangers and Celtic are reportedly wanted for another potential Premier League reform - the British Super League.
This week the Premier League’s ‘Big Six’ - Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Chelsea - were all forced to back down from the ESL within 48 hours of its announcement after a fierce backlash from across the footballing world. Now a report in The Sun is claiming that a reform of the Premier League could still be on the cards with a British Super League featuring both Old Firm teams being mooted.
Premier League reform has been discussed since the publication of Project Big Picture in October, a plan led by Liverpool and Manchester United that was rejected by the majority of Premier League clubs and would have seen the more established teams wield far greater power. Despite the humiliation of the ESL, teams in favour of the tournament apparently believe that the attempted breakaway has strengthened their position in terms of the need for reform.
One source said, “Whether or not the Super League was going to happen, we all feel that the Premier League has to be changed and improved.
“It is time we opened it up to Rangers and Celtic. That would make sense for everyone.”
Unlike what we saw with the ESL, the report claims it would be a move that would be backed by FIFA, UEFA and the UK Government and with the gigantic fan bases of both Old Firm clubs, the report suggests that it would be mutually beneficial with Celtic and Rangers getting a slice of the TV revenues.
There could also be a reduction of teams from 20 to 18 with potential for a top-four play-off, similar to those in rugby league and rugby union.
The other Scottish clubs and 14 Premier League teams are unlikely to go along with the changes but unlike the ESL, it’s a move that would have more backing than we saw with this week's failed experiment. FIFA President Gianni Infantino gave his blessing for crossover leagues when asked about proposals for mergers between Holland and Belgium, stating, “If we want teams to play at the highest level around the world we need to have new ideas and we need to see that.
Like the European Super League earlier in the week, reaction to a potential British Super League has been met with ire by the majority of football fans on social media.
It’s long been debated how well Rangers and Celtic would do if they were placed in the Premier League - if this new plan picks up traction, perhaps we’ll have the answer.
