Dave Cormack reacts to European Super League news as fears over Rangers involvement emerge
Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack has shared his fears that the new ruling over the European Super League will see the financial gap to Rangers and Celtic in Scotland double.
The chairman hit out at Scottish football for “sleep-walking” into this situation without any consultation or discussion about what could be done to prevent it.
This has come after the EU Court of Justice ruled that FIFA and UEFA banning the emergence of a Super League was illegal, opening the door for a new breakaway competition to be formed.
Cormack took to Twitter following the breaking news on 21 December where he explained where the Aberdeen board stands on the ruling.
“Replacing the 3 current European cup competitions will be approx. 60 clubs forming 3 leagues based on ranking and being guaranteed a minimum of 14 European club games each season… with the only opportunity for clubs ranked 61+ being to go through qualification rounds to enter the third league only, where there will be relegation.
“This will be the Trojan horse towards a European Super League and ultimately cross-border leagues because when the biggest clubs leave their National Leagues the commercial value for the remaining teams will plunge.
“We are working with like-minded clubs across Europe to make sure we do our utmost to deliver European club competition with similarly competitive clubs, the absence of which will lead to double the current gap in finances versus Celtic and Rangers, who will be included in those 60 ranked teams.
“As usual, in Scotland, we have slept-walked our way into this without any discussion.”
Is it as bad for football as people make out?
There has been plenty of misunderstanding about the intentions of a proposed European Super League. The clubs do not intend to leave their domestic leagues, it is the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League that would be affected by the change.
For Aberdeen, Cormack is right to be concerned. Fewer “big” teams in Europe being involved in these competitions means fewer eyes on the tournament, fewer eyes means less TV coverage and less TV coverage means less money and income for the clubs involved.
This would mean the likes of Rangers and Celtic, who would be competing in the Super League, continue to rake in the big money while those behind them are left in the dust.
Aberdeen’s involvement in the Conference League has been a huge financial benefit for the club. Without that, they would continue to limp by on SPFL money, which Rangers and Celtic themselves admit is insufficient.
If the Super League is formed, whatever format that may be in, the financial ramifications for smaller clubs across the continent could be catastrophic – and Cormack is right to be worried.
In other Rangers news, David Edgar has shared an update on a possible Alfredo Morelos transfer.